The eight-member bench of the Supreme Court has clarified the applications submitted by both the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding specific seats. The Court emphasized that, based on the ruling from July 12, candidates who submitted party certificates are not independent but are officially part of PTI. The ECP may face constitutional and legal consequences for failing to enforce this decision.
In its clarification, the bench reiterated that its previous short order was straightforward, and the ECP unnecessarily complicated the matter. The clarification came after the ECP filed an application concerning reserved seats, leading to a four-page explanatory statement from the bench that issued the majority ruling on July 12.
The statement asserts that any seat acquired under these circumstances should be recognized as belonging to the relevant political party. No actions or decisions made afterward can alter the original provisions established on those significant dates. The Court further explained that individuals will be deemed PTI members upon submitting their certificates and party declarations, and no later actions can change this status.
The Court also stated that the matter is now closed, and all affected individuals will be considered PTI members for constitutional and legal purposes. The clarification criticized the ECP's request for further explanation, viewing it as a hindrance to the Court’s original ruling.
On July 12, a 13-member bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa had, by majority vote, upheld an appeal from the Sunni Ittehad Council concerning specific seats. Eight judges allowed the appeal, while five dissented from the majority opinion. The ruling established that elected PTI candidates could not be considered members of any other party and that PTI alone was entitled to these reserved seats.
Following this decision, PTI retained its position as a political party, securing its status as an opposition group. The Court rejected any attempts to introduce ambiguity over its clear verdict, emphasizing that PTI is a registered political party and that the ECP’s refusal to acknowledge PTI certificates was incorrect. The ECP could face constitutional and legal consequences for failing to act accordingly.
The statement also declared that all those who submitted certificates belong to PTI, and the ruling applies equally to both national and provincial assemblies. The ECP’s position, which previously recognized Advocate Gauhar as the party’s chairman, cannot now be contradicted by seeking further clarification. Based on the ruling, those submitting party certificates are PTI’s successful candidates.
The majority bench included Justices Mansoor Ali Shah, Athar Minallah, Ayesha Malik, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Shahid Waheed, and Irfan Saadat.
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Imran Khan: We Will Not Stay Quiet on Judicial Constitutional Amendment
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has alleged that attempts are being made to extend the tenure of Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa through a recent constitutional amendment. He warned that PTI will not remain silent if such an amendment is introduced.
Speaking informally to journalists during the hearing of the £190 million reference at Adiala Jail, Imran Khan questioned how individuals could be removed from Parliament without the Speaker's consent, adding that what is happening to them today could happen to others tomorrow.
According to journalist Rizwan Qazi, when asked about the police entering Parliament Lodges during his tenure, Imran Khan claimed he wasn’t aware of such an incident but emphasized that no one has ever been forcibly removed from Parliament.
The former prime minister further alleged that Shehbaz Sharif would have been convicted in the money laundering case, but former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa intervened to save him. He said that aside from the money laundering case, all the cases against Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, and Ishaq Dar were long-standing.
When questioned about the drug case filed against Rana Sanaullah during his government, Imran Khan explained that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), led by a Major General, was responsible for that case. He added that he had contacted the ANF chief, who briefed the cabinet and presented the evidence related to Sanaullah's case.
Imran Khan also mentioned that PTI is preparing for a "street movement" and, regardless of the situation, he will hold a rally in Lahore on September 21, even if permission is denied. Despite roadblocks being set up in Islamabad, he noted that people still showed up in large numbers.
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