Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah suggested that the argument over denying reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) could be resolved if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) grants an additional three days for SIC candidates to choose another political party.
This offer came during a full court hearing on petitions challenging the Peshawar High Court’s decision to deny SIC reserved seats.
The problem appeared because independent candidates must join a political party within three days of the election results being published. The Supreme Court had earlier suspended the Peshawar High Court’s judgment and the ECP’s decision against SIC.
The full court’s discussions focused on whether candidates who joined SIC after the elections could still choose another party and the role of the ECP in ensuring fairness.
The case involves complex legal questions about candidate affiliations and the allocation of reserved seats, with various judges raising different points. The court will continue hearing the case.