Supreme Court Directive Propels PTI to Parliament's Forefront

The Election Commission of Pakistan has validated 39 MPs as lawmakers from former prime minister Imran Khan's PTI, following a Supreme Court ruling. This bolsters PTI's position as the potential largest party in Parliament, significantly impacting the ruling coalition, which has seen a reduction in its majority strength.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared 39 members of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as legitimate lawmakers, in compliance with a Supreme Court directive. This decision marks a significant breakthrough for PTI, potentially making it the largest political party in Parliament.

The Supreme Court's July 12 ruling affirmed PTI's status as a legitimate political entity, clearing the way for independent lawmakers supported by PTI to join the party formally. This move comes after PTI's previously supported independent candidates secured more seats than any other party in the February 8 general elections, despite PTI being barred from nominating candidates and losing its symbol of the cricket bat.

The recent ECP notification is a setback for the ruling coalition, who have filed review petitions against the judgment. The decision strips them of their two-thirds majority, crucial for constitutional amendments, and adjusts the reserved seat allocations in favor of PTI, PML-N, PPP, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.

(With inputs from agencies.)