ISLAMABAD: Members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concerning the allocation of reserved seats, while the National Assembly Speaker has also reached out to the Chief Election Commissioner.
Mohsin Ayub and Aamna Sheikh submitted a formal application to the ECP, asserting that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) failed to provide a list of candidates for the reserved seats, rendering them “ineligible” for those positions. The application requests that candidates who have not submitted their party affiliation certificates be declared “ineligible.” It further emphasizes that independent candidates who join a political party cannot switch parties again.
In their submission, the PML-N members highlighted that recent amendments to the Election Act have retroactive effects. According to these amendments, once a party affiliation certificate is submitted, it cannot be changed. The Election Act stipulates that a political party that fails to provide a candidate list is ineligible for reserved seats, and the submitted affiliation certificate cannot be altered.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has written to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, urging the allocation of reserved seats while “maintaining the autonomy of Parliament,” in accordance with directives from the Supreme Court.
He noted that the apex court has instructed that independent members who join other parties should not be allowed to switch affiliations again. Independent members who join a political party without submitting a party affiliation certificate will be considered independent under the law. The letter emphasized that the ECP cannot make decisions regarding reserved seats without implementing the updated Act.
Additionally, the letter clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision was based on a prior Act that is no longer applicable, as the new Act has received presidential assent. It stressed the importance of upholding the integrity and independence of the parliamentary system, urging the ECP to adhere to parliamentary and democratic principles.
