PML-N Secures Additional Reserved Seat in KP Assembly After ECP Reassessment
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has awarded the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) an additional reserved seat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly following a review prompted by a Peshawar High Court directive. The ECP, in a 15-page judgment issued on Tuesday, ruled in favor of PML-N while rejecting similar petitions from other political parties including PTI-P and the Awami National Party (ANP).
The judgment was delivered by a five-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. It stated that the PML-N’s general seat tally in the KP Assembly is now equal to that of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), thereby qualifying it for one more reserved seat. The ECP accepted the PML-N’s argument regarding independent candidate Malik Tariq Awan, who joined the party within three days of the election notification, as required under the Constitution.
Also Read:
However, the commission turned down a similar request from PTI-P and dismissed ANP’s plea for another reserved seat. The ECP emphasized that recalculating quotas for reserved seats at a later stage goes against constitutional and legal provisions. The bench clarified that the distribution of reserved seats was based on the party standings as of February 22, 2025, to prevent ongoing disputes and instability in the assembly composition.
The ruling also noted that including results from by-elections, as proposed by ANP, would create a cycle of never-ending recalculations and undermine the finality of seat allocations. The commission had earlier reserved its decision after hearing detailed arguments from lawyers representing PML-N, JUI-F, and other parties in a session held on Monday.
This decision followed a Peshawar High Court judgment on July 8 that annulled the ECP’s previous notification on reserved seat distribution in the KP Assembly. The court had directed the ECP to conduct a fresh review of seat allocations and postponed the oath-taking of lawmakers occupying reserved seats until the matter was resolved.
Speaking to reporters outside the ECP office in Islamabad after the hearing, JUI-F leader and legal representative Kamran Murtaza confirmed that all concerned parties presented their arguments. He acknowledged that PML-N’s request centered around the inclusion of independent candidate Tariq Awan, which ultimately influenced the outcome in their favor.
Read all the Breaking News Live on pakistantimes.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from Pakistan Times. Follow us on Whatsapp channel for more.
