Peshawar High Court Directs KP CM for Assembly Session

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued a directive to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and cabinet to convene an assembly session within a fortnight. This directive aims to ensure that individuals elected on reserved seats for women and non-Muslims take their oath of office. The PHC bench, consisting of Justice Syed Mohammad Attique Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmad, emphasized the importance of administering the oath to around 20 MPAs-elect from the opposition in KP.

In a detailed 24-page judgement, the court ordered the provincial assembly speaker to conduct the oath-taking ceremony during the session requisitioned as per the court's instructions. The PHC highlighted the constitutional obligation to facilitate the participation of elected representatives in the upcoming Senate election.

The court observed a dispute over the allocation of reserved seats, with the exception of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) having a majority in the KP Assembly. The reluctance to administer the oath to representatives of marginalized communities was seen as an attempt to prevent their involvement in assembly proceedings and voting rights in the Senate election.

Multiple petitions have been filed in the high court, including one by the speaker seeking a review of the order and others by the MPAs-elect demanding the implementation of the court's directives. The PHC emphasized the failure of the assembly secretary to inform the CM to requisition the session for oath-taking despite notifications from the ECP declaring the petitioners as elected MPs on reserved seats.

In conclusion, the PHC's judgement underscores the significance of upholding constitutional obligations and ensuring the representation of diverse communities in the legislative process. The court's intervention seeks to uphold democratic principles and safeguard the rights of elected representatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.