Supreme Court’s Detailed Judgment: PTI Entitled to Reserved Seats

The Supreme Court has released a detailed judgment regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) entitlement to reserved seats in the National Assembly, reaffirming that PTI has the right to those seats. The 70-page decision was written by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and orders that the verdict be translated into Urdu for wider public access.

The court overturned the Peshawar High Court’s earlier decision, emphasizing that the electorate holds the most significant stake in elections. It underscored that electoral disputes are fundamentally different from other civil disputes, reiterating that transparent elections are crucial for upholding democracy.

The judgment also declared the Election Commission’s decision from March 1 as unconstitutional, instructing the body to officially notify PTI’s candidates for reserved seats after securing signed declarations from all 80 MNAs.

In response to dissenting opinions from Justices Aminuddin Khan and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, the majority noted that while disagreement among judges is permissible, the manner in which the dissent was conveyed did not adhere to the expected judicial decorum.

The court emphasized its responsibility to protect voters’ rights, ensuring that their elected representatives assume their duties transparently. The ruling marks a significant legal win for PTI, securing their place in the upcoming legislative sessions.