The Supreme Court of Pakistan has made a significant ruling in the reserved seats case, overturning the decision of the Peshawar High Court and declaring 39 returned candidates as members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the National Assembly. This ruling increases PTI's representation in the National Assembly to 116 members and has implications for the provincial assemblies as well. The ruling coalition, which includes the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), loses its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. The Supreme Court's decision is seen as a crucial step towards fortifying democracy in Pakistan. The ruling was reached with an 8-5 split, with five judges issuing dissenting notes. The majority decision overturns the Peshawar High Court judgment and declares the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) order unconstitutional [2a0df304].
Former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has hailed the Supreme Court's ruling on the reserved seats case as 'a welcome relief'. Chaudhry retired from active politics and left PTI last May. The ruling is seen as a triumph for PTI and strengthens its position in the National Assembly. Chaudhry's statement highlights the significance of the ruling in terms of PTI's representation and its impact on the political landscape [2a0df304].
However, the Supreme Court's decision has been described as 'ambiguous' by Sindh Minister for Energy and senior PPP leader Syed Nasir Hussain Shah. Shah questioned whether PTI members who joined the Sunni Ittehad Council for reserved seats would now be subjected to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. This raises concerns about the eligibility and qualifications of these PTI members. On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman praised the Supreme Court's decision, describing it as a 'fresh breeze of air'. He urged the apex court to establish a judicial commission to investigate the form 45s, emphasizing its importance in forming a democratically elected government [a2b678ca].