ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) combined all Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) petitions seeking allocation of reserved seats and postponed hearing until today.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja headed five-member bench which heard petitions by PML-N’s Azam Nazeer Tarar, PPP’s Farooq Naik and SIC’s counsel Gohar Khan and Ali Zafar. Ali Zafar stated that he had sought allocation of reserved seats for SIC, wondering why other parties had decided to show up. Barrister Ali Zafar emphasised that his party’s reserved seat cannot be claimed by anyone else, highlighting that SIC has already submitted petition to ECP for allocation of reserved seats.

PML-N’s Tarar argued that SIC had not won single seat in National Assembly, therefore, independents that had joined party could not be given reserved seats.

Tarar and Farooq H Naik emphasised that it is up to Commission to determine whether Sunni Ittehad Council can secure reserve seat or not. CEC Sikandar Raja mentioned that Election Commission has scheduled applications for hearing and asked Ali Zafar, if he is party to all of these cases. Chief Election Commissioner advised them to leave matter of reserve seats to Election Commission for decision.

Barrister Ali Zafar stated that they have not yet received copies of applications and requested Commission to provide them. He assured that they would submit their response today.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 29 2024

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