PML-N Challenges Supreme Court Decision on Reserved Seats for PTI

The PML-N government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its verdict to allocate reserved seats to PTI. The July 12 ruling allowed PTI to gain 23 more seats in the National Assembly. The case prompted debates and heightened political tensions in Pakistan.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party-led government on Monday submitted a review petition to the Supreme Court, challenging its recent decision to allocate reserved seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

A full court of 13 judges had ruled on July 12 that PTI would be eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities in both the National Assembly and provincial assemblies, a decision that has significantly bolstered PTI's standing while drawing criticism from the government.

Following this ruling, PTI is set to become the largest party in the National Assembly, increasing its seats from 86 to 109, by gaining the 23 additional reserved seats. The PML-N argued in its review petition that PTI had not requested these specific seats, and that the petition was initially filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a separate political entity.

The petition also claimed that independent candidates, having already joined the SIC, should not be counted as part of PTI as declared by the July 12 decision. The PML-N contests that the Supreme Court's ruling is against the law which allows independent members to join a party within three days, not 15.

The PML-N further contended that the court did not adequately consider all arguments before ruling in favor of PTI. They have requested a suspension of the July 12 decision until the review petition is resolved.

Information Minister Atta Tarar added to the political uncertainty by suggesting a possible ban on PTI for alleged anti-state activities, exacerbating Pakistan's ongoing economic challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)