Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa defended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) during a hearing on Monday, emphasizing that the ECP is an independent body tasked with conducting elections under the Constitution.
He clarified that the Supreme Court can only intervene if the ECP exceeds its legal mandate. The court was addressing appeals from the Sunni Ittehad Council about reserved seats for women and non-Muslim candidates.
The Supreme Court directed the ECP to review how it allocates reserved seats among political parties based on the 2018 election results, including independent candidates. Justice Isa expressed concern that the court was overly involved in ECP matters, urging restraint unless there is clear evidence of election rigging.
The debate focused on whether the ECP correctly interpreted laws when denying a common election symbol to the PTI party. The court questioned the ECP’s decisions regarding party affiliations and seat allocations, emphasizing the need for clarity and consistency in electoral processes.