PESHAWAR – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced a significant reshuffling of reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly, following a directive from the Peshawar High Court (PHC). The court had earlier annulled the previous distribution and ordered the ECP to reallocate the seats after hearing all political parties involved.
In compliance with the court’s order, the ECP has reinstated 25 reserved seats for women and four for minorities in the K-P Assembly. These seats had been previously withheld due to disputes over their allocation. The restoration effectively nullifies earlier notifications that had de-notified candidates elected on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ticket.
The PHC’s decision to annul the initial distribution was based on petitions filed by various political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which argued that the allocation was not in accordance with the proportional representation system. The court’s intervention underscores the importance of adhering to constitutional and legal frameworks in the electoral process.
This development comes at a time when the K-P Assembly is preparing for the upcoming Senate elections, scheduled for July 21. The restored reserved seats are expected to play a crucial role in the electoral dynamics, influencing the composition and functioning of the provincial legislature.
The ECP has been directed to ensure that all future seat allocations are conducted transparently and in strict adherence to legal provisions, to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and uphold public confidence in democratic institutions.
