PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court resumed hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) challenging the allocation of reserved seats in the provincial assembly and sent the petition to bench No. -03 to seek a reply from the Election Commission of Pakistan
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr. Khurshid Iqbal, presided over the hearing. The court ordered that the petition be referred to Bench No. 3, which is already hearing a similar petition filed by the Awami National Party (ANP).
During the hearing, Aamir Javed appeared on behalf of PML-N, Naveed Akhtar represented JUI-F, and Mohsin Kamran represented the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The petitioners argued that the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities was unfair. According to the PML-N’s counsel, the party has seven MPAs but was awarded only eight reserved seats, while JUI-F, with the same number of MPAs, received ten reserved seats, including one minority seat. They also claimed that the ECP’s 2024 notification on reserved seats for women was not challenged in this particular petition, but emphasised that the distribution should be reviewed and rectified. The petitioners requested the court to stop the oath-taking of the members appointed to reserved seats until the case is decided.
The court directed the ECP to submit its response by tomorrow, despite the ECP’s request for a three-day extension. The case will now be heard by Bench No. 3.
Meanwhile, Provincial Minister Malik Liaqat, speaking to the media outside the Peshawar High Court, addressed several political and legal matters concerning himself and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Malik Liaqat revealed that he had already served jail time in five FIRs in Islamabad and had come to Peshawar to inquire about a separate FIR registered against him in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to seek bail. Referring to the recent tragic incident in Swat, he said it was an unexpected accident that unfolded within just two minutes.
Commenting on the economic situation when PTI came into power, Liaqat claimed the provincial treasury was empty. “When we took office, there wasn’t even enough in the treasury to pay salaries for 15 days,” he said. He added that due to frequent court appearances, he has been unable to focus on public service. Speaking on internal matters within PTI, he rejected claims of internal rifts, stating, “There are no differences in our party—everyone is free to speak their mind.”
He accused the PDM coalition of amplifying minor issues and reiterated PTI’s position as the largest political party in the country. Liaqat also confirmed the party will soon launch a new movement for the release of its founder, and that protests will be a part of it. When asked about political rival Amir Muqam, Liaqat noted that if Muqam’s hotel property complies with the law, it won’t be touched. However, he also stated that Amir Muqam has been the fiercest political opponent of PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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