The Supreme Court issued a detailed verdict, affirming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) status as a parliamentary party, making it eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities.
The 70-page judgment, authored by Justice Shah and deliberated by a 13-member bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, emphasized the harm caused by electoral authorities unlawfully denying recognition to a major political party. It highlighted that such actions compromise candidates’ rights and the legitimacy of elections.
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The court underscored the importance of free and fair elections in preserving democracy, stating that the judiciary must protect electoral integrity to maintain public trust. It also questioned the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) authority to reject intra-party election certificates, noting concerns about prioritizing internal party matters over voters’ rights.
The ruling acknowledged the ongoing review of related petitions by PTI and refrained from making conclusive judgments on the ECP’s decision to deny the party its symbol. However, it pointed to numerous unlawful actions by Returning Officers and the ECP, which caused confusion and prejudice to PTI, its candidates, and voters.
The verdict stressed that decisions must be based on concrete evidence and affirmed the ECP’s role as a vital democratic institution, not just an administrative body. The 8-5 majority ruling is seen as a setback for the ruling coalition, already grappling with various challenges.
