The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officially recognized an additional 93 lawmakers as members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday, following a recent Supreme Court ruling. This recognition includes 29 members from the Sunni Ittehad Council in Punjab, 58 members from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, and 6 members from the Sindh Assembly. With this update, the total number of PTI members officially acknowledged by the commission now stands at 132, including the previously recognized 39 members of the National Assembly.
This decision complies with a Supreme Court directive issued on July 12, 2024, which overturned a previous judgment by the Peshawar High Court and nullified an ECP order from March 1, deeming it unconstitutional. The PTI had earlier submitted lists of candidates for reserved seats, including 67 for women and 11 for minorities. Notable names on the list include Yasmin Rashid, Sanam Javed, and Aliya Hamza Malik, with Kanwal Shauzab, Rubina Shaheen, and Seemabia Tahir selected for reserved women’s seats in the National Assembly.
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In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, the ECP expressed its commitment to upholding the court’s directive. A spokesperson assured that the commission would address any implementation challenges while adhering to constitutional and legal standards. The ECP’s updated recognition aligns with the court’s majority verdict, reaffirming the commission’s role and authority in the electoral process amidst ongoing legal and political developments.
