Denying oath to MPAs on reserved seats: KP heading for another political crisis

PESHAWAR: Another political crisis is brewing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Senate polls in the province may be postponed in case oath is not administered to the remaining members of the KP Assembly to complete the House.

A five-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued a verdict in a petition filed by five women members -- Amina Sardar, Faiza Malik, Afshan Hussain, Shazia Jadoon and Jamila Paracha -- notified by the ECP on seats reserved for women.

“In case of a failure by the KP Assembly speaker to comply with the directives of Peshawar High Court, the commission shall be constrained to postpone the Senate election and extend the time for completion of the Senate election to the extent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in terms of Section 128 of the Act till the administration of oath to the applicants,” stated the verdict by the five- member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.

A number of women members, who were notified by the ECP as MPAs on reserved seats, are yet to be sworn in.

The opposition members have approached different forums in the last several days to ensure they take oath before the Senate polls slated for April 2.

The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday ordered the KP Assembly speaker to administer the oath to the members who are yet to be sworn in and facilitate them in casting votes in the Senate polls.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and provincial government recently locked horns over the issue of summoning of the provincial assembly session for the oath-taking of MPAs elected on reserved seats for women and minorities.

Governor Ghulam Ali summoned the session of the provincial assembly on March 22 for the oath-taking of remaining members.

“The governor while exercising his powers under clause (a) of Article 109 of the Constitution has summoned the assembly session on March 22 at 3 pm,” stated an order which was also conveyed to the secretary of the assembly.

The KP Assembly speaker a day after the letter by the governor wrote to the Law Department to seek its opinion. The Advocate General’s Office termed the letter of the governor illegal.

The session was not held on the date called by the governor as the main assembly hall was locked out.

The opposition members in the KP Assembly have protested, accusing the speaker of delaying the house session to stop the oath-taking of their MPAs. They argued the house was incomplete without them for the Senate elections to be held on April 2.