The Supreme Court Verdict Unveiled: PTI Declared Parliamentary Party
The Supreme Court recently released its detailed verdict on the reserved seats case, which had pronounced the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a parliamentary party. The July 12 order, with an 8-5 majority, made PTI eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities, leading to a setback for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition.
- Election authorities’ denial of major party recognition infringes on the electorate’s rights
- Unlawful acts by ECP and ROs prejudiced PTI and the electorate
- The ECP failed in its role as a guarantor institution of democratic processes
- Dissenting notes lacked restraint and courtesy expected from superior court judges
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah announced the majority verdict, supported by 7 other judges. The 13-member bench heard the case, with Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail penning a minority judgment. The detailed 70-page judgment authored by Justice Shah emphasized the significance of free and fair elections in upholding democracy.
The verdict highlighted the ECP’s failures which led to prejudice against PTI and the electorate, stressing the importance of the Commission’s role in ensuring transparency and fairness in elections to maintain public trust in the electoral system.
Summary of Highlights:
The recent Supreme Court verdict declared PTI as a parliamentary party, emphasizing the importance of free and fair elections, and cautioning against the ECP’s failure to fulfill its role as a guarantor institution of democratic processes. The detailed judgment sheds light on the injustices faced by PTI and the electorate due to the ECP’s unlawful acts, underscoring the critical role of electoral integrity in sustaining democracy.