SC suspends PHC verdict regarding Sunni Ittehad Council's reserved seats

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday suspended the verdict announced by the Peshawar High Court regarding giving the reserved seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council to other parties.

During the hearing, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that the court is suspending the judgments of the Peshawar High Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He observed that the suspension of the verdicts would be restricted to only giving the additional seats. "We are accepting the case for hearing," he ruled.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed that it is violation of the mandate to give seats of a party to another party. "It has been clearly stated in the constitution that representation would be proportionate and public mandate will be visible in the parliament. How can the basic principles be rejected for not providing the lists only?" he queried.

Justice Athar Minallah observed that reserved seats were doled out to other political parties without any justified reason. "How did the ECP establish a contradictory stance? How can a party be denied the reserved seats after accepting it a parliamentary party?" he questioned.

Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan contended that reserved seats are given to political parties. "Here no candidate joined a political party," he added.

The ECP counsel stated that a political party means a party that contests the election on an election symbol.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing until June 3. In the beginning of the hearing, the government had objected to the three-member bench. However, the court rejected the objection.