The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officially on Monday recognised an additional 93 lawmakers as members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The ECP’s latest notification includes 29 members from the Sunni Ittehad Council in Punjab, 58 members from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, and 6 members from the Sindh Assembly.
This update brings the total number of PTI members officially acknowledged by the commission to 132, including the previously recognised 39 members of the National Assembly.
The decision comes in compliance with a Supreme Court directive issued on July 12, 2024. The court's ruling overturned a previous judgment by the Peshawar High Court and nullified an ECP order from March 1, deeming it unconstitutional.
The PTI had earlier submitted lists of candidates for reserved seats, including 67 for women and 11 for minorities. Notable names on the list include Yasmin Rashid, Sanam Javed, and Aliya Hamza Malik.
Additionally, Kanwal Shauzab, Rubina Shaheen, and Seemabia Tahir were also selected for reserved women’s seats in the National Assembly.
In response to the Supreme Court's decision, the ECP has expressed its commitment to uphold the court’s directive. A spokesperson assured that the commission would address any implementation challenges while adhering to constitutional and legal standards.
The ECP's updated recognition aligns with the court’s majority verdict, reaffirming the commission’s role and authority in the electoral process amidst ongoing legal and political developments.
