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Pakistan News

    Title: Reserved seats: ECP combines SIC petitions, defers hearing till Wednesday
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    Reserved Seats  ECP Combines SIC Petitions Defers Hearing Till Wednesday 47083
    Description: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) combined all petitions related to minority and women reserved seats of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on Tuesday and postponed the hearing until Wednesday. A four-member panel, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and comprising members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana, and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan, heard the petition. Barrister Farogh Naseem represented Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Barrister Ali Zafar represented the SIC, stating they were there to secure their allocated seat. Azam Nazir Tarar from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Farooq H. Naik from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) represented their respective political parties. They emphasised that it is up to the commission to determine whether the SIC can secure reserved seat or not. Barrister Zafar emphasised that his party’s reserved seats cannot be claimed by anyone else, highlighting that the SIC has already submitted a petition to the ECP for the allocation of reserved seats. Read also: ECP to hear SIC reserved seats case today Barrister Gohar urged the bench to allocate reserved seats to the SIC. The CEC mentioned that the ECP has scheduled the applications for a hearing, and asked Zafar, if he is a party to all of these cases. Tarar countered by asking how independent members affiliated with the SIC, which failed to win even a single seat, could be granted reserved seats. He argued that these members, originating from a party rejected by the electorate, did not initially apply for reserved seats. Furthermore, given that the SIC is not recognised as a parliamentary party, questioning their entitlement to reserved seats. The CEC advised them to leave the matter of reserved seats to the Election Commission of Pakistan for decision. Barrister Zafar stated that they have not yet received copies of the applications and requested the commission to provide them the same. He assured that they would submit their response today. Naik urged the commission to convene and hear from all parties involved. Read: The reserved seats’ dilemma Barrister Gohar said that their opponents did not win a seat in Lahore and are asking for SIC’s seats. Tarar, responding to Barrister Gohar, suggested that they should reserve these comments for private discussion and the media outside the commission premises. Talking to the media later, Barrister Gohar said that the meeting of the National Assembly will be illegal until a decision is taken on reserved seats. The PTI chairman asserted that no assembly session can be held until the reserved seats are decided. He hoped that the decision of the ECP will be based on justice. Barrister Gohar stated that 86 MNAs-elect have joined the SIC, and the council has forwarded four applications to the ECP. He expressed hope that a decision to allocate minority and women reserved seats will be reached by Wednesday. Barrister Gohar disclosed that 90 MPAs elected in K-P and seven elected MPAs in Balochistan have joined the SIC, while 107 elected MPAs in Punjab have also pledged their support to the council.
    Published Date: 27-Feb-2024
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