PTI Moves SC For Contempt Proceedings

Web Desk — The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved the Supreme Court for contempt proceedings against the present government in the reserved seats case.

The apex court ruled on July 12 that the PTI was eligible to receive reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the national and provincial assemblies. The verdict was a big blow to the ruling coalition, making PTI the single largest party in both houses of Parliament.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has convened some meetings regarding the SC verdict, but it has yet to implement top court orders pleading that the Election Act 2017 has been amended.

A petition submitted by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Monday mentioned the chief election commissioner and provincial election commissioners as the respondents.

Raja argued that the court’s judgment and two further clarifications on its verdict leave no ambiguity about the PTI’s entitlement to reserved seats. He said that despite court orders, the ECP has yet to act upon the judgment and complete the process of electing lawmakers on reserved seats.

He said, “This deliberate and contumacious failure to act by the judgment … renders the chief election commissioner as well as the four members of the ECP liable to proceedings for the contempt of the judgment of this honorable court.”

Will not obey court orders on reserved seats: NA Speaker

Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq says he will not follow court orders on reserved seats, stating that he would wait for the ECP instructions as the ECP was the competent authority in this regard.
“It is the Election Commission’s job to notify members,” Sadiq said. “If we start listening to courts, there are many decisions … We won’t do it on the court’s order, we will wait for the ECP to notify it,” he added.