ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in the case related to the specific seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council.
The full court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case regarding specific seats.
Faisal Siddiqui, the lawyer of the Sunni Ittehad Council, argued that he will prove that the Election Commission has not fulfilled its responsibility. It was held that Balochistan Awami Party did not win any seats in 2018 but got three reserved seats. The Election Commission’s decision was based on the law related to Balochistan Awami Party.
Justice Qazi Faiz Isa asked that the Election Commission was right in 2018? Do you want the Supreme Court to take judicial notice? If not, why are you mentioning it? If you want to take a case regarding the 2018 elections, then take it, but the Supreme Court will not depend on the 2018 elections.
Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui said that the hypocrisy of the Election Commission is obvious, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam was also given a special seat for minorities.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said that only Sunnis can join the Sunni Unity Council?
Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui replied that all Muslims can join the Sunni Unity Council.
Faisal Siddiqui argued that specific seats should be given to other parties, this is not written in the text of the constitution, 30 specific seats were given in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in 2024, PML-N got 5 specific seats instead of 2 seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the National Assembly. , should the winner of 18 general seats get 30 reserved seats?
The Chief Justice remarked that you repeatedly start talking on behalf of PTI. You should stay on the Sunni Ittehad Council. According to your logic, the Sunni Ittehad Council should get zero seats, according to your logic. There were zero seats in the elections, you did not win any seat, you are giving arguments on the case of Tehreek-e-Insaaf, you are talking against yourself.
Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui replied that those who are being called independent candidates are not independent candidates.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said that if we accept your arguments, then it is not your case, if we accept your arguments, then specific seats will be given to PTI.
Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui said that the reserved seats will be given to the Sunni Ittehad Council which is present in the Parliament.
On this, Justice Irfan Saadat said that Faisal Siddiqui’s party got a bonus, but your party did not contest the election and got ninety seats.
On this occasion, Justice Athar Manullah remarked that no one is talking about the right to vote, the people voted for a certain political party, it is important to make the elections transparent, according to the situation, a big political party got the vote, which was elected. They were removed from the process, it is not about the political party but about the people’s right to vote, in 2018 too, serious questions were raised about the elections, questions were also raised about the Election Commission, should they remain silent? Let the rights of the people be violated? Was the election conducted in normal conditions and transparently? Why should a major political party send its candidates to another party?
Faisal Siddiqui argued that it is necessary to see how the independent candidates joined the parties, the Election Commission would have said at the same time that you cannot join the Sunni Ittehad Council. According to the rules of the Election Commission, if someone is a member of a political party, he should get the symbol of the same political party. He cannot join a new party without leaving a political party.
Justice Athar Manullah said that why are you not saying that you were forced for other symbols, Hamid Raza was PTI’s nominee before the bat sign was decided, was the election conducted in normal conditions and transparently? Why did a major political party have to send its candidates to another party? Why are you not saying that you were forced to do so? Misinterpretation that led to controversy.
Faisal Siddiqui said that it is to be seen how the independent candidates joined the parties, the will of the independent candidate should also be involved, according to the rules of the Election Commission, if someone is a member of a political party, he should get the symbol of that political party.
Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar pointed out that you are wrong because you submitted the nomination papers.
Salman Akram Raja, the lawyer of the independent candidates, argued that the candidates associated with Tehreek-e-Insaaf were declared independent, according to the decision of the Election Commission, we will be considered as independent candidates. The Election Commission tried to suppress its record. A seat must be won to take.
Justice Atharmanullah said that the case is very important, serious questions have been raised on the responsibility of the Election Commission, the Election Commission tried to suppress the record before the Supreme Court, the Election Commission expelled a political party from the elections, should such an action be allowed? Shouldn’t the Supreme Court look?
After the arguments of the lawyers of all the parties were completed, the Supreme Court reserved its decision regarding the specific seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council. Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa said that he cannot say anything yet when the decision will be pronounced.
