ECP merges SIC reserve seats petitions, defers hearing until tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) combined all petitions related to minority and women reserved seats of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on Tuesday and postponed the hearing until Wednesday (tomorrow).

A four-member panel, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and including members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana, and Justice (R) Ikram Ullah Khan, heard the petition.

Barrister Farough Naseem represented Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Barrister Ali Zafar represented the Sunni Ittehad Council, stating they were there to secure their allocated seat.

Azam Nazeer Tarar from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Farooq H. Naek from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asserted that they were representing their respective political parties. They emphasised that it is up to the commission to determine whether the SIC can secure reserved seats or not, the official news agency reported.

Barrister Ali Zafar emphasised that his party’s reserved seats cannot be claimed by anyone else, highlighting that the SIC has already submitted a petition to the ECP for the allocation of reserved seats.

Barrister Gohar urged the bench to allocate reserved seats to the SIC.

The Chief Election Commissioner mentioned that the Election Commission has scheduled the applications for a hearing, and asked Ali Zafar if he is a party to all of these cases.

Azam Nazeer Tarar countered by asking how independent members affiliated with the Sunni Ittehad Council, which failed to win even a single seat, could be granted reserved seats.

He argued that these members, originating from a party rejected by the electorate, did not initially apply for reserved seats. Furthermore, given that the Sunni Ittehad Council is not recognised as a parliamentary party, he questioned their entitlement to reserved seats.

The chief election commissioner advised them to leave the matter of reserved seats to the Election Commission for decision.

Barrister Ali Zafar stated that they have not yet received copies of the applications and requested the commission to provide them the copies. He assured that they would submit their response on Tuesday.

Farooq H. Naek urged the Election Commission to convene and hear from all parties involved. It is a legal issue, not a political one, he said.

Barrister Gohar said that their opponents did not win a seat in Lahore and are asking for a SIC seat. Tarar responded to Barrister Gohar, suggesting that they should reserve these comments for private discussion, media outside the commission premises.

Talking to media, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Barrister Gohar said that the meeting of the National Assembly will be illegal until a decision is taken on reserved seats.

Barrister Gohar said that no assembly session can be held until the reserved seats are decided. He hoped that the decision of the Election Commission will be based on justice.

Barrister Gohar said that 86 MNAs-elect have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council, and the council has forwarded 4 applications to the Election Commission. He expressed the hope that a decision to allocate minority and women reserve will be reached by Wednesday (tomorrow).

Barrister Gohar disclosed that 90 MPAs-elect in KP and 7 in Balochistan have joined the SIC, while 107 elected MPAs in Punjab have also pledged their support to the council.