Lahore, July 13, 2024: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif called an important meeting to plan the next steps following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict in the reserved seats case.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz, and other prominent PML-N leaders will attend the meeting, according to sources familiar with the development. Federal cabinet members will also be present.
The meeting is specifically convened to discuss crucial matters following the Supreme Court’s verdict, which declared the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) eligible for reserved seats.
Sources added that the meeting led by Nawaz Sharif will also involve consultations on other key issues.
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah stated on Friday that the decision in the reserved seats case cannot be termed a ‘conspiracy’ against the government.
During a press conference in Islamabad, Rana Sanaullah noted that judges are human beings and their opinions can be disagreed with. He mentioned that the federal cabinet will decide whether to file a review petition in the matter, and that the legal team will be consulted for this purpose.
“If the government does not file a review petition, the suspended members of the assembly may file review appeals,” he added.
Rana Sanaullah emphasized the government’s respect for the apex court and the judges.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court overturned the denial of reserved seats to the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah announced the 8-5 majority verdict on a petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), an ally of the PTI.
Justices Athar Minallah, Shahid Waheed, Muneeb Akhtar, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Irfan Saadat Khan ruled in favor of the PTI.
The top court nullified the Peshawar High Court’s order, which had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to deny the reserved seats to the SIC.
In its order, the apex court stated that the ECP’s decision to allocate reserved seats to the ruling coalition was unconstitutional.
The bench accepted the SIC’s petition and ruled that the party is eligible for the allocation of reserved seats. The apex court recognized PTI as a political party and asked the Imran Khan-led party to submit a list of reserved seats candidates to the ECP within 15 days.
