ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has filed a review petition with the Supreme Court, asking for clarification regarding the reserved seats ruling, ARY News reported.
According to sources, the ECP has partially implemented the original verdict but now seeks the court’s guidance on the recently passed Election Amendment Act. This new law has introduced changes to the allocation of reserved seats, and the ECP is uncertain whether to follow the amended law or the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling.
The case revolves around Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its reserved seats. The ECP has already taken action against 39 PTI members but needs the Supreme Court’s guidance to avoid confusion between the court’s ruling and the newly passed parliamentary law.
Previously, the Supreme Court dismissed a similar ECP request, calling it a “delaying tactic.” An 8-5 majority ruling had clarified that the ECP cannot keep changing its stance on the matter after already recognizing PTI’s leadership.
The reserved seats issue first emerged when PTI-backed candidates won independent seats, but the ECP refused to allocate reserved seats, citing procedural failures by PTI. This decision was later upheld by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) before being appealed to the Supreme Court.