PTI founder as PM was influencing ECP, remarks CJP in reserved seats case
ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, while hearing a case pertaining to the reserved seats on Monday, remarked that the PTI founder as the prime minister was influencing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
He questioned that how the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) could get the reserved seats as per constitution.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel remarked that why should a party that did not bother to contest the elections be given the reserved seats.
Faisal Siddiqui, counsel for the SIC, contended that the real issue is related to the purpose of the constitutional sections. “Reserved seats do not depend upon performance in the elections.”
However, the CJP stopped the SIC counsel from expressing his interpretation and said that the court and the ECP are not bound to follow your (counsel) interpretation, but they are bound to the words written in the constitution.
Justice Irfan Saadat Khan observed that the counsel’s arguments would make the words written in the constitution ineffective. “The SIC is not a political party.”
The counsel told the court that they had joined the SIC under compulsion. At this, the CJP remarked that the country would not run if they succumbed to compulsions. “You would stand nowhere if the mood of the people controlling the SIC changed,” he observed.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the entire matter was confused when the PTI was deprived of the election symbol. “Questions were raised on the election. The same thing happened which was happened in 2018. Those who did not held press conferences were picked up. Complaints about lack of level playing field were lodged. Everyone knows about this matter. Should the Supreme Court shut its eyes on it?” he questioned.
The CJP remarked that whether the court had asked the PTI not to hold the intra-party elections. “The ECP requested the PTI to hold the intra-party elections. Where is the right of 800,000 members of the PTI?” he queried.
