ECP accepts PML-N plea for greater share in KP Assembly reserved seats

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday accepted the ruling PMLN’s request for a greater share of reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly while rejecting similar pleas from two other parties.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja issued the 15-page verdict following a Peshawar High Court order directing the ECP to redistribute KP Assembly’s reserved seats. The decision brings PMLN’s general seats on par with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUIF, entitling it to one additional reserved seat.

The order stated: “...recalculation of quota for reserved seats for women and non-Muslims at belated stage after allocation of reserved seats to the political parties is not supported by the Constitution and law. The rationale for calculation of quota for the reserved seats on the basis of party position on 22-02-2025 was to avoid unending controversies.”

The ECP accepted PMLN’s plea regarding independent candidate Malik Tariq Awan, who joined the party within three days of the election notification as per constitutional requirements. However, it rejected similar claims by PTI-P.

Regarding ANP’s request for an additional seat, the commission noted: “Results of bye-elections cannot be included as it is not the spirit of Constitution... In case this petition is accepted it will be un-ending processes which will result recalculation/ fluctuation of seats from time to time.”