PTI Files Contempt Petition Against ECP Over Reserved Seats Ruling
ISLAMABAD, October 28, 2024: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted a contempt petition to the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to implement the court’s July 12 order regarding reserved seats.
In its July ruling, a 13-judge bench of the Supreme Court declared that the PTI was entitled to reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in both national and provincial assemblies. This decision was seen as a significant setback for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition, potentially positioning the PTI as the largest party in Parliament.
The court had classified the PTI as a parliamentary party, noting that 39 out of the 80 MNAs listed by the ECP were PTI candidates. The remaining 41 independents were required to submit notarized statements within 15 days to confirm their party affiliations from the February 8 general elections.
Despite multiple reminders from the Supreme Court, the ECP has yet to act on the ruling.
In the petition filed today, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja named the chief election commissioner and provincial election commissioners as respondents.
He argued that the ECP’s failure to implement the court’s decision constitutes contempt and requested that the court initiate proceedings against the commission, compelling it to comply with the July verdict.
