PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has formed a larger bench consisting of five members to address a plea filed by the Sunni Union Council (SIC), which is seeking the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities.
The bench of PHC, comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Aijaz Anwer, Justice SM Atiq, Justice Shakeel Ahmed, and Justice Syed Arshad Ali, is scheduled to hear the plea on Thursday at 12 noon.
Earlier today, PHC halted newly appointed members on reserved seats from taking an oath by issuing a stay-order on SIC’s petition. Additionally, PHC has issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other involved parties.
The SIC approached PHC against the decision of the ECP not to allot reserved seats in the National and provincial assemblies. On Tuesday, ECP notified the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities, which were contested by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against other political parties.
This development occurred after the electoral body dismissed SIC’s petition seeking the allocation of reserved seats following its merger with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Subsequent to the allocation of reserved seats, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the largest parliamentary party in the National Assembly (NA) with 123 seats, followed by the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) with 82 seats. Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured 73 seats.
