Delay in reserved seats case raises concerns

The legal proceedings regarding reserved seats for women in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly following the February 8, 2024, general elections remain stalled.

This prolonged indecisiveness has also delayed elections for vacant Senate seats from the province.

After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates contested independently and later joined the Sunni Ittehad Council, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notifications on March 4 under the Election Act 2017.

As per the notification, these seats were allotted to Jamiate Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), and PTI-Parliamentarians.

PTI challenged the decision in Peshawar High Court, which upheld the ECP ruling.

PTI then appealed to the Supreme Court, where on July 12, 2024, an 8-member majority bench led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah ruled in PTI's favour. Five judges, including Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, dissented.

In response, PML-N, JUI, and PPP filed review petitions in the Supreme Court, which were postponed due to court vacations.

Meanwhile, Parliament emphasised resolving the matter as per constitutional procedures through an amendment act.

The Supreme Court's constitutional bench has yet to issue a final verdict.

With 20 of the 26 reserved seats still vacant, public concern is mounting.