Poll body reshuffles K-P seats distribution

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PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday unveiled its order with regard to allocation of reserved seats to various political parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on petitions filed by the PML-N, the ANP and the PTI-Parliamentarians.

According to the written order, one women's seat and one minority seat previously allocated to the JUI-F have been withdrawn. As a result of the PML-N gaining one additional women's seat, both the JUI-F and the PML-N now have 17 members each, including 9 women and 1 minority member.

One minority seat will be decided by a coin toss between the two parties.

The PPP also lost one women's seat and is now left with 5 women and 1 minority seat, totaling 10 seats in the assembly. The ANP and the PTI-P each have 2 general and 1 women's seat. One women's seat will be decided between them in a coin toss. The final seat allocations will become clear after these tosses. The polls oversight authority also accepted independent lawmaker Tariq Awan's request to join the PML-N. It, however, turned down the PTI-Parliamentarian and the ANP's request to be granted one additional reserved seat on the basis of two general seats.

It noted that a seat won in a by-election cannot be counted towards allocation of reserved seats.

Despite the ECP's decision regarding reserved seats and a letter from K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, urging Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to convene a session of the assembly, there is uncertainty over the oath-taking of the new members and the upcoming Senate elections.

At the K-P government level, consultations among legal experts are ongoing. If the new members are not sworn in during working days before July 19, the Senate elections could once again be postponed.

The PTI's provincial government has yet to decide on calling an assembly session in which the new members would be sworn in.

Opposition parties have already submitted a request to the assembly secretary to call the session, but despite this, the K-P government remains undecided and continues consultations with legal experts.

A related case is being heard in the Peshawar High Court, which has sought a reply from the advocate general by today (Wednesday)* The situation is expected to become clearer after that.

If the provincial government still does not convene the session for the oath-taking, then under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the chief justice himself—or his representative—can administer the oath to the new members.

However, if the oath is not administered, the Senate elections scheduled for July 21 may once again be in jeopardy. While Senate elections were held in April last year in the other three provinces and at the federal level, elections could not be held in the K-P due to non-allocation of reserved seats.

The Provincial Assembly Secretariat is expected to hand over the Assembly Hall to the ECP between July 16 and 18, so that arrangements can be made to use it as a polling station for the Senate elections.

In this regard, the K-P election commissioner, along with his delegation, called on the KP Assembly speaker, Babar Saleem Swati, at the speaker's chamber. The meeting focused on matters related to the election code of conduct, administrative preparations, and ensuring a transparent electoral process.

Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah was also present alongside the speaker during the meeting.

The ECP delegation requested full cooperation from the KP Assembly for the smooth conduct of the Senate elections and emphasized that the electoral process should be carried out peacefully, in accordance with the Constitution, law, and the code of conduct.

The speaker assured the delegation of complete support and stated that the assembly would provide a fair, transparent, and dignified environment for the Senate elections. He said democratic traditions would be upheld and the electoral process would be peaceful and effective.