In a decisive move, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated reserved seats to the families of the May 9 martyrs. Sources reveal that these seats, previously reserved for women, will now be granted to the widows of Javed Akakhel, Sikandar, Muhammad Bilal, Abrar Ahmad, and Javed Gill.
This decision follows directives from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Pakistan favored the PTI in an 8-5 verdict, allowing the party to retain reserved seats.
Reserved Seats: Supreme Court Favors PTI in Landmark Verdict
Contrary to previous decisions, the Supreme Court overturned the Peshawar High Court’s ruling that deprived the PTI of reserved seats for non-Muslim and women candidates. The apex court, in an 8-5 decision, deemed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s actions unconstitutional and affirmed PTI’s status as a political party without an election symbol. The verdict, authored by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, allowed the PTI to submit a list of candidates for reserved seats.
Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Irfan Saadat, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Ali Mazhar supported the decision. In contrast, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Afghan, and Justice Aminuddin Khan dissented. Justice Yahya Afridi also wrote a dissenting note.
The full court bench deliberated on the matter for almost two hours before announcing the verdict.
