Peshawar :The political atmosphere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remains tense as the KP Assembly session convened for the oath-taking of members on reserved seats was abruptly adjourned due to a lack of quorum, further deepening the ongoing constitutional and political crisis in the province.
What was supposed to be a routine procedural session to administer oaths to members elected on reserved seats turned into a dramatic display of political discord, as government and opposition members clashed verbally. The situation escalated when quorum was challenged minutes after the session began, resulting in the adjournment of the assembly proceedings. With Senate elections scheduled for tomorrow, the delay in oath-taking has placed the entire electoral process in jeopardy.
Assembly Session Begins Amid Delay and Discord
Over Two-Hour Delay Before Proceedings Begin
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session, called specifically for the oath-taking of members on reserved seats, commenced after a delay of over two hours. Scheduled to start in the morning, the session began under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, only to be disrupted almost immediately after commencement.
Quorum Identified Immediately
As soon as the Speaker declared the session open, Sher Ali Afridi, a member of the government benches, identified the lack of quorum — a procedural tool often used in Pakistani parliamentary politics to stall sessions. The Speaker, acting in accordance with assembly rules, asked Afridi to confirm the identification of quorum from his seat.
Upon verification, it was revealed that only five government members were present in the assembly, well below the required number to conduct proceedings. Only 25 total members were recorded as present, far short of the quorum requirement for a provincial assembly session in KP, which is one-fourth of the total strength.
Heated Exchange and Microphone Controversy
Opposition Voices Suppressed
As the session stumbled into a procedural halt, PML-N leader Sobia Shahid attempted to raise a point of order, criticizing the ruling party for delaying democratic processes. “You have been denying the rights of this province for five years,” she exclaimed before her microphone was muted by the Speaker.
In response, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati said, “You should not deliver a speech. If there is something procedural to suggest regarding the quorum, state it.”
Opposition Protests
Opposition lawmakers gathered near the Speaker’s dais, chanting slogans and demanding that the session proceed with the oath-taking ceremony, calling the delay a deliberate attempt to sabotage the legislative process.
Assembly Adjourned Amidst Chaos
Given the identification of quorum and the subsequent disorder in the House, Speaker Swati adjourned the session until 2:00 PM on July 24, 2025. The adjournment has now added a new layer of uncertainty to the Senate elections scheduled for the next day, as newly elected members on reserved seats have not yet been sworn in and are therefore ineligible to participate in voting.
PTI Parliamentary Party Boycotts the Session
PTI Strategy Meeting Held
Earlier in the day, before the assembly session began, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party convened a crucial meeting under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. During this meeting, PTI members were instructed not to attend the assembly session and to boycott the proceedings entirely.
This political maneuver seems to be a strategic decision aimed at stalling the oath-taking process for reserved seat members — many of whom are from the opposition alliance.
Reserved Seats: Why They Matter
Reserved seats, including those for women and minorities, are filled based on proportional representation from general seats won by political parties. The delayed oath of these members is seen by political observers as an attempt to reduce opposition representation in the provincial assembly and to impact the upcoming Senate election vote count.
Implications for Senate Elections
Election Commission’s Concern
According to sources within the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the lack of oath-taking for reserved seat members could have direct implications on the Senate elections scheduled for July 21, 2025. Elections are due for 11 vacant Senate seats, and a complete composition of the KP Assembly is essential for the vote to proceed lawfully.
The ECP has stated that its staff and polling materials will still arrive at the Assembly on election day, but any decision regarding the conduct of elections will be made on the spot, depending on the legality of the assembly’s composition.
Legal Mandate and Schedule Enforcement
ECP sources have reiterated that the election schedule is binding and must be followed unless the courts or the Assembly legally alter the conditions. However, a complete assembly is typically a prerequisite for the Senate electoral college, making this an unprecedented challenge for the electoral body.
Background: KP Political Crisis and Reserved Seats Dispute
PTI’s Contentious Relationship with ECP
The current crisis is rooted in the growing rift between PTI and the Election Commission of Pakistan. Following the February 2024 general elections, several reserved seats were allotted to independent candidates backed by PTI. The ECP, however, did not allocate reserved seats to PTI on the grounds that independents are not eligible for proportional reserved seat allocations, unless they are part of a formally registered political party.
To circumvent this, PTI-backed independents formed a new party titled Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). The party then claimed its share of reserved seats, arguing that the independents who joined it post-election should be treated as a bloc for proportional allocation. The matter remains contested in both courtrooms and political circles.
Delays in Swearing-in Ceremony
The deliberate delay in conducting the oath-taking ceremony for the members elected on these reserved seats is viewed as an extension of this ongoing dispute. It has enabled PTI to maintain a majority edge in the assembly while legally barring opposition members from taking part in significant parliamentary votes, including the Senate elections.
Legal Experts Weigh In
Legal analysts and constitutional experts have voiced concern over the misuse of procedural tools, like quorum identification, to paralyze the assembly. Constitutional law expert Barrister Rida Hussain said:
“While quorum checks are valid under parliamentary law, using them repetitively to block fundamental processes such as oath-taking undermines democratic institutions.”
Several legal petitions are reportedly being prepared by opposition parties to challenge the delays in reserved seat representation and the intentional blocking of members from fulfilling their constitutional duties.
Opposition’s Response and Political Fallout
United Front Against PTI
Opposition parties, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have vowed to resist what they call “PTI’s undemocratic tactics.” Addressing the media outside the assembly, PML-N’s Sobia Shahid said:
“This is nothing short of hijacking the democratic process. Reserved seats are not a favor — they are a constitutional right.”
National Implications
The crisis in KP is not just provincial in nature. Delays and manipulation in provincial assemblies can lead to a distorted composition of the Senate, which plays a critical role in legislation, federal budget approvals, and constitutional amendments.
If opposition parties are unable to ensure full representation, it could impact key national decisions in the coming months.
What’s Next?
With the Senate elections scheduled for July 21 and the next KP Assembly session adjourned until July 24, the constitutional timeline is under stress. The Election Commission now faces the dilemma of either postponing Senate elections in KP or conducting them without full representation, both of which could trigger legal challenges.
The upcoming days are crucial, not just for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but for the federal political structure of Pakistan. Whether the rule of law or partisan strategy prevails remains to be seen.
Conclusion: A Constitutional Crisis in the Making
The events unfolding in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly highlight a growing trend of political gamesmanship that threatens the core democratic processes of Pakistan. The boycott by PTI, the quorum-based stalling, and the absence of newly elected members from key proceedings have not only delayed governance but could potentially influence the outcome of national Senate elections.
As opposition voices grow louder and legal battles loom, one thing is clear: Pakistan’s political landscape remains as volatile as ever, with democratic norms hanging in the balance.
