PTI to challenge PHC decision on reserved seats

Chairman Gohar urges top court to constitute a larger bench to hear the case

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Thursday announced that his party will challenge the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) decision regarding reserved seats in the Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, PHC dismissed the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) plea challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to allocate reserved seats for women and minorities in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures meant for it to other parties.

In a 4-1 majority verdict, the ECP, on March 4, dashed the PTI-backed SIC's hopes for a seat quota, citing "non-curable legal defects" and a violation of mandatory provisions in submitting party lists for reserved seats.

Read more: PHC rejects SIC's reserved seats plea

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Gohar stated that they would challenge the PHC's decision in the Supreme Court, urging for a larger bench to hear the case promptly.

He stated that consultations had taken place with the founding PTI chairman Imran Khan regarding the Senate elections, and the announcement of candidates' names would be made either today or tomorrow.

He alleged ongoing attempts to manipulate their candidates' positions in the recounting process, calling upon the judiciary to intervene and prevent such actions.

He added that PTI would hold a large gathering on March 23 and reiterated their stance against accepting a victory of his opponents based on Form-47s, which, according to him, was fabricated.