SIC can’t be given reserved seats: ECP

ECP submitted reply to SC in case of reserved seats of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), contending that council couldn’t submit its list on the last date i.e. January 24

By Our Correspondent
June 23, 2024
Security personnel stand guard at the headquarters of the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad on September 21, 2023. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted its reply in the Supreme Court (SC) in the case of reserved seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), contending that the council couldn’t submit its list on the last date i.e. January 24.

Advertisement

According to the Election Commission’s reply, the SIC cannot be given reserved seats, as the last date for submitting the list of reserved seats was January 24, but the council failed to submit the list for reserved seats.

The ECP has maintained that according to the SIC constitution, a non-Muslim cannot be a party member; the condition of the SIC Constitution against the inclusion of non-Muslims is unconstitutional, therefore, the council is not eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities.

As per the ECP reply, the candidates were asked for a certificate to give the election symbol of PTI-Nazriyati. Later the candidates themselves withdrew from the election symbol of PTI-Nazriyati (PTI-N) and they were declared independent.

The ECP has said that after the elections, independent candidates joined the Sunni Ittehad Council and the Election Commission gave a four-one decision not to give reserved seats to the council. Afterwards, the Peshawar High Court upheld the ECP decision on the appeal of Sunni Ittehad Council.

In response, the ECP said that the council was not eligible for reserved seats and that there was no flaw in the decision of Election Commission and Peshawar High Court not to give reserved seats. Also the decision to allocate reserved seats is in accordance with the Constitution and law.

On the other hand, the Sunni Ittehad Council submitted additional documents to the Supreme Court in the case of reserved seats. Advocate Salman Akram Raja, appearing for Kanwal Shauzab, submitted additional documents to the Supreme Court. In the additional documents, notifications issued by the Election Commission about two successful members of the National Assembly were also placed before the apex court.

The decision to approach the Election Commission on a petition against declaring an independent candidate is also included in the documents. Additional documents also include the Election Commission’s February 2 decision on independent members.

It has been said in the petition that additional documents are very important to decide the case of reserved seats, so additional documents should be allowed to be brought on judicial record for the case. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case of reserved seats on June 24. The full court headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will hear the case.

Advertisement