ISLAMABAD — On Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will convene following a Supreme Court decision that reshapes the allocation of reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies.
Agenda and Focus
- The meeting, chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, will involve all ECP members and legal advisers. It aims to strategise the implementation of the court’s decision.
- A key priority is restoring the earlier Peshawar High Court judgment, which favours the ruling alliance over the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Notification of Victors
- Following the review, the commission plans to issue official notifications of the victorious candidates on reserved seats. These changes are expected to significantly strengthen the position of the ruling coalition—particularly the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N).
Backdrop of the Ruling
- Earlier this week, a 10-member Supreme Court bench formally dismissed petitions filed by SIC/PTI allies and reinstated the PHC’s original decision.
- As a result, 22 reserved seats in the National Assembly and 55 in the provincial assemblies will be reallocated to parties within the coalition—shifting the parliamentary balance.
ECP Stance Under Scrutiny
- The commission has refuted media criticism, calling such allegations “baseless propaganda” and stressing that its decisions are grounded in constitutional duty, not political factors.
- It acknowledged that while certain details will be fine-tuned during today’s meeting, the core redistribution aligns with the court’s directive.
Wider Political Implications
- The move restores the ruling coalition’s two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, significantly altering parliamentary dynamics.
- With reserved-seat notifications pending, attention will now shift to potential by-elections and the timing of subsequent Senate elections.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.