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Arab News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's top court rules Imran Khan's party ineligible for reserved parliamentary seats
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top court on Friday ruled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan is not entitled to reserved seats in the national and provincial legislatures, setting aside an earlier judgment that had granted the party its share. The Supreme Court's Constitutional Bench dismissed all review petitions filed by PTI and allied petitioners, reinstating the Peshawar High Court's earlier ruling rejecting the allocation of reserved seats to the party. 'The impugned majority judgment dated 12.07.2024 is set aside… and the judgment rendered by the Peshawar High Court, Peshawar is restored,' the short order read. The dispute about the reserved seats stems from the February 8 general elections, where PTI candidates contested as independents after the party lost its electoral symbol for not holding valid intra-party elections, as required under the Elections Act. Despite winning the most general seats in the national polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruled that PTI was ineligible for reserved seats for women and minorities in parliament, which are allocated based on proportional representation from among the seats won by political parties. Last year in July, the Supreme Court reversed the ECP's decision, terming it unconstitutional and ordering the reserved seats to be allocated to PTI. However, the government subsequently passed amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, in a move widely seen as targeting PTI's eligibility for reserved seats. The revised law stipulated that only those candidates who had formally declared their party affiliation before the returning officer — and whose party had submitted lists of nominees for reserved seats within the legal deadline — would be entitled to such allocations. Since PTI-backed candidates contested the February election as independents, and the party did not submit lists for reserved seats, the amendments effectively barred it from claiming a share. With Friday's verdict, the apex court has now ruled that the independents backed by PTI in the February election cannot be treated as party nominees for the purpose of seat allocation. Responding to the development, Khan's party described the short order as the 'funeral … of justice' in a social media post. The government, on the other hand, welcomed the decision, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulating its legal team's 'tireless efforts.' 'The decision has upheld the supremacy of the Constitution and law, and ensured correct interpretation of legal provisions,' he said in a statement. 'The opposition should now join the government in playing a constructive role for the country's development and prosperity,' he added. The reserved seats in question will now be allocated to other political parties, including Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and its coalition partners. The top court's verdict will numerically strengthen the government while dealing yet another blow to Khan's PTI, which has faced legal and political challenges since the downfall of its administration in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan govt presents Rs28.77bn charged expenditures
ISLAMABAD: The federal government presented Rs28.774 trillion charged expenditure including in demands for grants and appropriation for the financial year ending on June 30, 2026, in the National Assembly for discussion. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb presented charged expenditure including demands for grants and appropriation in the house for discussion. The opposition members severely criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for providing demands for grants and claimed that the ECP has failed to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country. Projected expenditure rise in budget FY26 According to documents tabled in the National Assembly, there is Rs14 trillion repayment of domestic debt, Rs7.197 trillion for servicing of domestic debt, Rs5.48 trillion foreign loans repayment, Rs1.01 trillion servicing of foreign debt, Rs9.869 billion for election, Rs6.65 billion for Supreme Court, Rs2.17 billion for Islamabad High Court (IHC), Rs774.95 billion for external development loans and advances by the federal government, Rs6.85 billion for National Assembly, Rs6.174 billion for the Senate and Rs1.76 billion for Staff Household and Allowances of the President (personal). There is also Rs1.64 billion for Wafaqi Mohtasib, Rs5.93 billion for Superannuation Allowance and Pensions, Rs60 billion for grants, subsidies and miscellaneous expenditure, Rs9 billion for audit, Rs199.8 billion for repayment of short-term foreign credits and Rs933.74 million for staff household and allowances of the President (public), etc. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
ECP to hear cases against PTI legislators today
ISLAMABAD: The poll body is scheduled to hear the cases against five legislators, who belong to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday (today), on the petitions mainly moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members, seeking to unseat the said lawmakers. PTI has repeatedly alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is hearing cases against its members out of politically motivated reasons. These five legislators against whom the cases are scheduled are: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, his two cousins — Akbar Ayub Khan and Arshad Ayub Khan — both of whom are members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Malik Adeel Iqbal, another Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) in KP legislature, and PTI Lahore chapter President Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood, who is Member of Punjab Assembly. All the five legislators had won their respective seats in last year's general elections. The reference against Iqbal sought his disqualification from Punjab Assembly allegedly over having Canadian nationality, an allegation Mahmood denies. The cases against all other four legislators sought re-polling in the respective constituencies, alleging foul play in the general elections. Jamshaid Dasti is another Member National Assembly (MNA) who belongs to PTI against whom cases are pending over allegedly fake educational credentials, and alleged discrepancies in his wealth statement filed with the ECP. Dasti also had to contest the last year's general election on SIC ticket in the contest of PTI election symbol issue. Apart from that, the hearing of reference against the NA opposition leader, seeking his disqualification from NA over alleged financial corruption and alleged misrepresentation of related facts in the electoral documents, is scheduled in the ECP on 1st July. The Article 63(2) of the Constitution of Pakistan provides that if any question arises whether a legislator has become disqualified from being a member, the speaker or chairman (of the legislature concerned), shall, unless they decide that no such question has arisen, refer the question to ECP within 30 days, and if the speaker/chairman fails to do so within the aforesaid period, the question shall be deemed to have been referred to the ECP. The Article 63(3) provides that the ECP shall decide the question within 90 days from its receipt, and if it is of the opinion that the member has become disqualified, the member shall cease to be a lawmaker and their seat shall become vacant. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Govt presents Rs28.77bn charged expenditures
ISLAMABAD: The federal government presented Rs28.774 trillion charged expenditure including in demands for grants and appropriation for the financial year ending on June 30, 2026, in the National Assembly for discussion. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb presented charged expenditure including demands for grants and appropriation in the house for discussion. The opposition members severely criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for providing demands for grants and claimed that the ECP has failed to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country. Projected expenditure rise in budget FY26 According to documents tabled in the National Assembly, there is Rs14 trillion repayment of domestic debt, Rs7.197 trillion for servicing of domestic debt, Rs5.48 trillion foreign loans repayment, Rs1.01 trillion servicing of foreign debt, Rs9.869 billion for election, Rs6.65 billion for Supreme Court, Rs2.17 billion for Islamabad High Court (IHC), Rs774.95 billion for external development loans and advances by the federal government, Rs6.85 billion for National Assembly, Rs6.174 billion for the Senate and Rs1.76 billion for Staff Household and Allowances of the President (personal). There is also Rs1.64 billion for Wafaqi Mohtasib, Rs5.93 billion for Superannuation Allowance and Pensions, Rs60 billion for grants, subsidies and miscellaneous expenditure, Rs9 billion for audit, Rs199.8 billion for repayment of short-term foreign credits and Rs933.74 million for staff household and allowances of the President (public), etc. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Timeline has to be set by court when constitutional timeline is not met: PTI counsel
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI)'s counsel told the Constitutional Bench that the majority judgment in reserved seats has not violated the Constitution by extending time for 41 independents to join the PTI. Salman Akram Raja, representing the PTI, said that eight judges of the Supreme Court have dealt with the coercive measure adopted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the PTI candidates had opted to contest elections as independent. An 11-member Constitutional Bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the review petitions of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) and the ECP. The proceeding was live-streamed on SC's You Tube channel. Raja argued that the timeline has to be set by the Court when constitutional timeline is not met. The eight judges considering all the facts and the precedents gave relief to the PTI. Justice Amin inquired when the Court hearing an appeal filed against the Peshawar High Court (PHC) under Article 185 of the Constitution then can use Article 187. Raja, citing cases of NRO and extension to the Chief of Army Staff, argued that deviation had taken place in the past as well, but the Supreme Court cured them. He said judgment of Justice Mandokhail and Justice Qazi Faez also recognised the deviation and cured it by declaring that 39 independents are PTI candidates and entitled to reserved seats. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail said to extent of 39 independents they had done that on the basis of undisputed facts. Raja contended that the majority judgment had also looked at all the facts and the precedents and came up with two different sets of relief, adding the factual finding cannot be undone. Justice Amin said till date, none of the 80 independents has disputed that he or she has not joined the SIC independently. Justice Mandokhail noted that the elections process starts by filing nomination papers, adding the candidates who have mentioned in their nomination papers independent then why not they accept those nomination papers? At the onset of the proceedings, Raja explained why the PTI candidates contested general elections 2024 as independents. He submitted that after the Supreme Court's judgment on the PTI's intra-party elections, the ECP disallowed party symbol to them, and also derecognised the PTI, adding the ECP in its 9th February order declared all the PTI candidates as independents, including those who had contested on PTI tickets and won the elections. He told that there was great confusion at time as they were told that all the PTI candidates would be treated as independents, 'therefore our returned candidates had joined the SIC, as we had the precedent of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) before us that a party which had not contested elections and won any seats, but was distributed reserved seats.' 'We had the understanding that ultimately the will of the people would prevail.' Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail stated that the BAP had contested the election and secured seats, adding it had some members in the Balochistan provincial assembly and five in the Senate, if not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Raja replied that they had assumption that the BAP party had no seats in the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies. Justice Mandokhail said despite various difficulties some of the PTI members contested on the PTI tickets and became MNAs. He questioned when PTI was in the National Assembly then why 80 independent returned candidates joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). He asked whether those six MNAs had claimed reserved seats on their strength? Raja replied that till 11th February 2024, the ECP treated them (the six MNAs) also as independents. 'If six lawmakers had been recognised as PTI then the independent candidates could have joined the PTI instead of the SIC.' Justice Mandokhail then asked Raja that you filed a writ petition before the Lahore High Court (LHC),praying that you should be declared as PTI candidate instead of independent. Raja informed that his petition was disposed of by a divisional bench of LHC, which included Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, without any order and the matter was remanded to the ECP. 'I came to the Supreme Court against that order I have challenged the vires of Explanation of Rule 94 of The Election Rules, but the SC office returned my petition on 2nd February, 2024 by raising objections.' Justice Mandokhail then asked him whether you or any of the PTI leaders till date has challenged that order? Raja responded: 'We came to the Supreme Court not once, but twice, but our application was returned by the Registrar's Office, and we were told that the Supreme Court will not entertain any election related application.' Upon that, Justice Mandokhail questioned why not any of the PTI leaders filed any chamber appeal. The case was adjourned until today (Thursday). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
