K-P Governor Kundi administers oath to 25 lawmakers after PHC intervention

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has administered the oath to 25 members of the provincial assembly on reserved seats for women and minorities, following an intervention by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Sunday.

The oath taking ceremony was held at Governor House in Peshawar. Representatives of the Election Commission, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly staff, and other relevant government officials were also present at the oath-taking ceremony.

Earlier in the day, a scheduled assembly session to administer the oath was disrupted when quorum was challenged soon after proceedings began. As a result, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati adjourned the session until July 24 at 2 PM.

Opposition parties subsequently approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to ensure the swearing-in of the newly elected lawmakers. In response, the court directed the provincial governor to administer the oath in lieu of the assembly speaker.

The newly sworn-in lawmakers include seven women and two minority members from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), seven women and one minority member from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), four women and one minority member from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), two women from the Awami National Party (ANP), and one woman member from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P).

K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the obstruction of oath-taking by elected lawmakers, calling it a violation of constitutional rights and a "shameful act."

In a statement issued after administering the oath to 25 members elected on reserved seats, Governor Kundi criticised the provincial government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for what he described as repeated attempts to undermine the democratic process.

"Preventing elected representatives from taking their oath is disgraceful. It is their constitutional right, and any obstruction in this process is deeply regrettable," said Kundi.

He thanked the PHC for authorising him to carry out the swearing-in ceremony and reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding democratic values.

"We will not allow the sanctity of democracy to be violated. The PTI has exposed itself by interfering in a constitutional obligation," he added.

Following directives from PHC, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that Senate elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will now begin at 11:00 AM instead of 09:00 AM.

In a statement issued on X (formerly Twitter), the ECP said, "The Election Commission hereby directs that polling shall commence at 11:00 AM (instead of 09:00 AM) for the conduct of Senate election against seven General seats, two Women seats, and two seats for Technocrats including ulema, from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, scheduled to be held on 21st July, 2025."