In a recent development, both Ayaz Sadiq and the Sindh Assembly Speaker have informed the Election Commission of Pakistan that the apex court’s verdict cannot be implemented. This comes after the National Assembly Secretariat disregarded a Supreme Court verdict and an ECP notification by excluding PTI members and categorizing them as part of the Sunni Ittehad Council.
Despite the NA Secretariat recognizing 80 lawmakers as SIC members and eight as independents, discrepancies exist in the official NA website’s party positions. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled PTI eligible for reserved seats, leading to an ECP notification identifying 39 MNAs as PTI lawmakers. However, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s letter to the ECP and Sindh Assembly Speaker’s similar stance indicate the government’s reluctance to acknowledge this classification.
Reacting to this categorization, PTI plans to challenge the decision in court, denouncing it as contempt of the Supreme Court. The government’s actions are seen as an attempt to manipulate institutions and gain a two-thirds majority through alternative means.
This issue highlights a clash between institutional integrity and political maneuvering, with the credibility of the judiciary at stake. Unity among judges is crucial to uphold the court’s respect and prevent further constitutional breaches.