Pakistan High Court Verdict Suspended, What’s Next?

A verdict has been handed down and it has shook Pakistani politics to the core; this is because the Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended a verdict by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which had significant implications for the allocation of reserved seats in the legislative assembly.

The Contested Verdict

The conclusion of the decision that was taken by the PHC, which has been placed on hold for the time being, was over the distribution of reserved seats for those who are members of minority groups and women. Previously, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)12 had challenged the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to distribute these seats to other parties. This decision had been made in the past. Previous decisions of similar kind have been made by the ECP.

Particularly, the Supreme Court’s choice to postpone the PHC verdict has helped Imran Khan’s party, which had earlier backed independent candidates who later joined the SIC to claim these seats3. The SIC has been allowed to go on operating as an organisation by this ruling. It is expected that during the planned hearing, a larger bench will deliberate on the matter, and the judge will render his or her decision there.

The Implications for Democracy

Within the confines of Parliament, a discussion is now going place over the way in which the mandate of the people ought to be expressed. The new legislative development that has led to this conversation is the reason why it is taking place. In his remarks, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who was the senior member of the three-person bench, emphasized how important it was to accurately convey the mandate of the people. This comment was made by him in relation to the seriousness of the choices that are likely to be handed down by the court in the not too distant future.

In view of the fact that it has been decided that the matter will be heard, individuals who are an integral part of the legal community are anxiously anticipating the decision that will be made. The decision of the Supreme Court will not only establish a precedent for the manner in which election problems will be resolved in the long run, but it will also take into account the reserved seats and decide what will happen to them.