Pakistan Peoples Party Challenges Supreme Court Verdict on Reserved Seats

The Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, challenged a Supreme Court decision that allocated reserved seats to Imran Khan’s PTI party. The judgment, which made PTI the largest party in Parliament, has also faced a review petition by the ruling coalition partner PML-N. A hearing is scheduled post-September holidays.

The Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan Peoples Party on Tuesday filed a challenge against the Supreme Court's decision to allocate reserved seats to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party. This follows a review petition from the ruling coalition partner, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), according to a media report.

On July 12, a 13-member bench of the apex court determined that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was entitled to seats reserved for women and minorities in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies. This decision positions Imran Khan’s party to become the largest in Parliament.

PML-N's Maryam Nawaz criticized the Supreme Court verdict, expressing surprise and questioning the legitimacy of reinstating individuals she labeled as “criminals of the nation.” The PPP's review petition seeks to overturn the court’s decision and reinstate rulings from the Peshawar High Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan, which previously directed reserved seats to be allocated to PTI.

Though the ruling coalition displayed apprehension, the government led by PML-N on July 15 filed its own review petition in the Supreme Court. The hearing for these petitions is set to occur after the September holidays.

However, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa has dissented, suggesting summer holidays be cancelled to address the review petitions promptly. He emphasized that the Constitution should take precedence over judicial convenience, deeming any delay as unjust.