PTI submits list of priority candidates on reserved seats

ECP to notify the party's members after declarations

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought declarations from the members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the party submitted its list of priority candidates for five reserved seats in the Punjab Assembly for women and minorities that fell vacant following the de-seating of 25 PTI lawmakers over defection.

The watchdog had earlier this month stayed the notification of new MPAs on five seats of the Punjab Assembly reserved for women and minorities, saying the notification would be stayed until by-elections were held in the province on July 17.

Subsequently, PTI members filed different petitions challenging the ECP’s decision to defer issuing notifications. The party cast it as “injustice” and expressed misgivings about the rationale behind the stay as it manoeuvred to secure a favourable equation in the provincial assembly.

Read more: ECP reserves order in PTI prohibited case

However, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday accepted the PTI’s plea and ordered the ECP to notify the party's members on the reserved seats.

According to PTI's priority list shared with the electoral supervisor, Batool Janjua, Saira Raza and Fouzia Abbas have been floated for women's seats while Habakkuk Gul and Samuel Yaqub have been recommended for seats reserved for minorities.

Also read: PTI case about prohibited funding, ECP tells IHC

The ECP has sought declarations from the members as per the priority list, sources said, adding that the declarations have been sought under Section 104 of the Election Act.

The watchdog is expected to issue notifications on the reserved seats after wrapping up the process of declarations.