PTI -Parliamentary Committee rejects SC -judgment on reserved seats

Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentary Committee has categorically rejected the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench, which deposed its July 12, 2024, judgment. This decision had reinstated PTI as a parliamentary party and allowed it to secure reserved seats in the legislature.

Last week, the Supreme Court overturned its 12th July decision on reserved seats, accepted petitions with petitions and maintained Peshawar High Court’s decision. As a result, PTI lost its reserved seats.

In response to the court’s decision, PTI held a crucial meeting of his parliamentary committee in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the consequences of the verdict.

The meeting attended by PTI members of the national and provincial assemblies, senators and central leadership focused on analyzing the political landscape after the go and formulating a parliamentary strategy. It also saw heated exchanges between some leaders, which suggested internal party tensions.

Amir Dogar, a member of the National Assembly, initiated the discussion by presenting a written notice from prisoner PTI leaders and expressing concern about their abuse and lack of medical facilities in prison.

Sheikh Waqa’s Akram revealed that seven party workers had lost their lives because of illness while in prison, and catching fundamental rights were denied. Nisar Jutt criticized KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur over the provincial budget and emphasized that party leaders should avoid giving conflicting statements without mutual consultation.

Jutt also confirmed the support of PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, where he said he was appointed by the founder and therefore has the full mandate of the party.

Ali Muhammad Khan supported negotiations between the party during the meeting and mentioned that if the management chooses to negotiate, the party would support it. But if protests were elected, the party would also attend.

Zartaj Yellow suggested that protests be held at the election level instead of in Islamabad and proposed to form an authorized committee for negotiations.

Read: PTI is losing the court match for reserved seats

A unanimous decision was adopted during the meeting, which required any possible effort to ensure the release of the basic chairman, secure other prisoners’ health and well -being and reject the court’s judgment on reserved seats. The resolution also required PTI leaders and lawyers to be allowed to meet Imran Khan immediately.

After the meeting, Barrister Gohar, Salman Akram Raja, Gandapur and Akram held a press conference to clarify the party’s attitude. Gandapur said the party is ready to sacrifice everything for the release of founder Imran Khan.

He added that if someone is trying to overthrow their government through constitutional means he would end politics. Raja stated that Pakistan’s resources have been looted for eight decades and emphasized the need to fight for people’s fundamental rights.

Barrister Gohar reiterated that the party is following the founder’s instructions, and any decisions on negotiations, protests or other political actions will be taken with his approval.

Akram maintained that there is complete unit within the party and that the political and legal struggle will continue under the founder’s leadership. He also confirmed the party’s unanimous rejection of the court’s decision on reserved seats.

SC overturns PTI’s claim of reserved seats

The Supreme Court overturned a 2024 verdict that had enabled PTI to demand reserved seats in national and provincial legislators.

The order issued by a 10-member constitutional bench allowed several petitions filed by the reigning coalition and rejected his previous decision that had recognized PTI through his alliance with Sunni Itthad Council (SIC), as justified in reserved seats.

With a majority of seven judges, the supreme court gave up in favor of the review, effectively canceling the APEX Court’s July 12, 2024, judgment. This verdict had previously restored PTI’s status as a parliamentary party and ordered the ECP to award reserved seats to women and minorities.

Following the new decision, almost 80 reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies will be redistributed among other parliamentary parties, excluding SIC. The move gives the reigning coalition a two -third majority in parliament.

It is worth noting that Peshawar High Court had previously rejected SIC’s challenge to the Election Commission for Pakistan’s decision, which had refused to assign reserved seats to the party.

Earlier, in its short order on July 12, 2024, eight out of 13 judges concluded that 39 out of 80 MNAs on the list were elected candidates for PTI, placing it as the largest party in the National Assembly.