Supreme Court of Pakistan scrutinizes Election Commission's decisions

The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently delved into a case involving the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the issue of reserved seats for candidates aligned with the Sunni Ittehad Council. Justice Munib Akhtar Akhtar pointed out several legal errors made by the ECP, leading to PTI-backed candidates running as independents. The full bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, resumed the hearing on the SIC's plea against the denial of reserved seats for women and minorities.

The SIC's lawyer argued that despite not participating in the elections, independent candidates ran with their support. The ECP's rejection of the SIC's candidate list was questioned, with CJP Isa highlighting the distinction between a parliamentary political party and a political party.

Justice Akhtar emphasized that candidates indicating affiliation with a party should be considered affiliated with it, questioning the ECP's decision to declare PTI's candidates as independents. The controversy surrounding the deprivation of a political party's electoral symbol was also discussed, stressing the importance of following democratic processes.

During previous hearings, the SIC's lawyers argued for their entitlement to reserved seats, citing constitutional violations. Discrepancies in the allocation of additional seats to ruling coalition parties were brought to light, prompting the court to seek clarification on the allocation of reserved seats for women in the National Assembly.

Questions arose regarding candidates running as independents despite party ties, as well as the PTI's status after losing its electoral symbol. The court sought clarification on the PTI's registration with the ECP to address key issues.

In a significant development, a top court bench overturned a decision denying reserved seats to the SIC, which had provided a political refuge for PTI lawmakers-elect. Subsequent discussions involved opposing counsels presenting their stances on the matter.

The Supreme Court's scrutiny of the reserved seats case sheds light on the complexities of electoral processes and the importance of upholding legal standards. The case underscores the need for clarity in party affiliations and adherence to democratic principles to ensure fair representation in government.