Peshawar High Court Issues Restraining Order on Oath-Taking for Reserved Seats in National and Provincial Assemblies

Strategic Insights -

The Peshawar High Court has halted the swearing-in of newly selected members on reserved seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies, citing serious objections regarding the allocation of reserved seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). A two-member bench, comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal, heard a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) and issued notices to the ECP, directing them to pause the oath-taking process until further orders. The controversy surrounds the ECP's allocation of reserved seats, with PTI-P arguing that they were miscalculated and that they are entitled to additional seats.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Peshawar High Court has issued a restraining order against the swearing-in of newly selected members on reserved seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.
  • The court's decision comes on the heels of a petition filed by PTI-P, which argued that the ECP had miscalculated the allocation of reserved seats and that they are entitled to additional seats.
  • PTI-P claims that they have two general seats in the provincial assembly but were allocated only one reserved seat for women, and that they are entitled to two more women's seats and one minority seat.
  • The ECP's allocation of reserved seats was based on a recent Supreme Court ruling, which ordered the reallocation of 76 reserved seats previously withdrawn from PTI.
  • The reallocated seats will restore 21 reserved seats in the National Assembly, including 3 minority seats, and reinstate 8 women's seats in the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  • Party-wise, the National Assembly will reinstate 14 seats for PML-N, 4 for PPP, and 3 for JUI-F, with PML-N recovering the most seats - 44 in total.
  • The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will see the reinstatement of 10 seats for JUI-F, 7 for PML-N, 6 for PPP, and one each for ANP and PTI-P.
  • The Punjab Assembly will see the restoration of 23 seats for PML-N, 2 for PPP, and one each to PML-Q and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party.

Statistics:

  • 21 reserved seats in the National Assembly will be restored, including 3 minority seats.
  • 8 women's seats in the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be reinstated.
  • 10 women's reserved seats will be restored in Punjab.
  • 24 women and 3 minority seats will be restored in the Punjab Assembly.
  • 2 women and 1 minority member will be reinstated in the Sindh Assembly.
  • 21 women and 4 minority seats will be restored in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
  • PML-N will recover 44 seats in total across the National and provincial assemblies.
  • JUI-F will reclaim 13 seats nationwide.
  • PPP will regain 14 seats nationwide.
  • MQM will regain one seat in Sindh.

Sources:

  • PTI-P's petition to the Peshawar High Court
  • Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
  • Supreme Court of Pakistan
  • Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P)
  • Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N)
  • Pakistan People's Party (PPP)
  • Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F)