SC suspends PHC decision on SIC reserved seats

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the Peshawar High Court’s decision on the reserved seats of the Sunni Ittehad  Council (SIC).

The suspension of the PHC decision is limited to reserved seats. The apex court has also suspended the Election Commission decision on matter.

The Supreme Court has admitted SIC pleas for hearing.

During the hearing, lawyer Faisal Siddiqui told the court that PTI’s independent MNAs joined the Sunni Ittehad Council, upon which Justice Mansoor Ali Shah inquired whether the 7 candidates are still part of the National Assembly in independent status?

Justice Athar Minallah asked whether PTI is a registered political party. On which, Faisal Siddiqui said that PTI is a registered political party.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked how many days independent members have to join a party? On which, lawyer Faisal Siddiqui said that independent members of the National Assembly have to join a political party within three days.

Justice Athar Minallah inquired if a political party does not have an election symbol, will its candidates lose their right to represent? To which, Faisal Siddiqui’s answer was that a political party can become a parliamentary party by participating in the elections, the other way is that a political party does not participate in the elections and the members who win freely join this party.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked according to what formula the reserved seats were distributed among political parties and will the political party take reserved seats according to the seats it won or can it take more? Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui said that no political party can take reserved seats more than its proportion.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the federal government and the Attorney General and immediately sought the records of the case from the Election Commission. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed they want to hear and decide the case on a daily basis. The scheme of the Constitution is that the mandate should be respected.