Govt weighs options on reserved seats verdict

AGP says no decision yet on filing review

SIALKOT/ KARACHI:

The PML-N-led federal government has not yet been able to decide on the legal course of action it should take in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Friday ruling, which declared the PTI eligible for reserved seats, a decision that dashed its hopes of gaining a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Despite signals from within the government hinting at the possibility of a review petition after seeking legal advice and thoroughly examining the apex court’s judgment, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan clarified that no decision has been made yet.

In an informal chat with the media following the oath-taking ceremony of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Shafi Siddiqui, AGP Awan stated that the current status is merely a short order. He added that there has been no discussion at the cabinet or higher levels regarding a review.

“The decision to file a review appeal will be made by the government, and it is difficult to comment further at this stage,” he said. Awan noted that if the government opts for a review appeal, it should be a thoroughly considered move.

“While there have been discussions on the judgment, there has been no deliberation on whether to pursue a review,” he noted.

A day ago, the apex court declared Imran Khan’s PTI eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities, which has significantly impacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition.

Following the judgment, the PTI is expected to become the single largest party in the National Assembly. The ruling coalition is poised to lose its two-thirds majority as PTI gains 22 reserved seats previously distributed among three other political parties, increasing its total number of lawmakers to 114.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that any appeal against the decision on reserved seats will be filed after consultations with allied parties.

Addressing a press conference in Sialkot, he asserted that rewriting the Constitution is the parliament’s responsibility, not the judiciary’s.

Asif criticised the judiciary for providing relief to a party that was not even the petitioner in the case, while numerous litigants await justice across various courts.

While affirming that he has “great respect for the judiciary”, the PML-N leader said PTI had not claimed the seats or sought any relief, and it was the SIC who had moved the court.

“Legally, the members sitting in the parliament at that time had submitted their affidavits, and that process could not be repeated.” He recalled that PML-N had to face such a situation in the Senate in 2018.

Khawaja Asif said that no one in the ECP or Peshawar High Court said that he should be considered as a PTI member, “all claimed that they had joined the Sunni Ittehad Council and the SIC was their party”.

He stressed the need for a consensus among coalition partners before deciding on filing a review appeal. He highlighted that discussions on this matter would take place in the parliament on Monday.

Asif further remarked on the judiciary’s ranking, expressing concern over its current position and the lack of efforts to improve it.