Islamabad: A total of 292 independent candidates who secured seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). This move, announced on Wednesday, marks a notable shift in political alignments within Pakistan.
Among the independent members, 86 elected to the National Assembly have decided to align themselves with the Sunni Ittehad Council. Similarly, 107 independent candidates who won seats in the Provincial Assembly of Punjab have opted to join the party. Additionally, 90 independent candidates from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly and nine independent members from the Sindh provincial assembly have also joined the ranks of the SIC.
Promptly following this influx of new members, the Sunni Ittehad Council submitted the list of joiners, along with their affidavits, to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in compliance with legal requirements.
Wednesday marked the deadline for independent candidates to join any political party, leading to a flurry of affiliations and realignments within the political landscape.
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Earlier in the week, the Sunni Ittehad Council made a request to the ECP to assign seats reserved for women and minorities to the party. This request came in response to independent candidates previously backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announcing their decision to support the religious party.
According to an announcement by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, the party-backed independents submitted applications to the election body regarding their alignment with the SIC, signaling a strategic shift in political alliances.
As these developments unfold, the political dynamics in Pakistan continue to evolve, shaping the landscape for future governance and policy decisions. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
