ISLAMABAD, SEPT 27 (DNA) – The ongoing legal battle between the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court on the issue of reserved seats has intensified, as the ECP filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s explanation issued on September 14.
The petition asserts that the election commission is not responsible for delays in the court’s decisions, and refers to a request for clarification made on July 25 regarding the court’s decision on reserved seats delivered on July 12.
It states that the Supreme Court issued an order on the clarification request on September 14. It further asks when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was issued a court issue notice seeking a reply. “Neither the election commission was issued a notice on the PTI’s document nor was a reply sought,” the review plea mentioned.
In its review petition, the ECP says that on its request for clarification, parliament enacted a new law. It has requested the Supreme Court to review its explanation of September 14 issued on the ECP’s petition.
After several consultation meetings on the court’s July 12 majority decision, the election commission has again asked the Supreme Court for another explanation.
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It argues that the Elections Amendment Act did not exist when the explanation was initially sought on the brief majority decision of July 12. But now, parliament has enacted a new law, therefore the commission must be told whether to implement the law enacted by parliament or the decision of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had rejected the election commission’s previous request for a clarification. Meanwhile, the issue of implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision to allocate reserved seats to the PTI has once again hit a snag.
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The election commission has held numerous unfruitful meetings in the last few days on the situation arising after the amendments to the Elections Act by parliament. It further notes that the Supreme Court’s majority decision ruled that if there was any ambiguity, the election commission or the PTI could apply for clarification.
The election commission had filed an application earlier also in light of the brief verdict based on which, on September 14, eight judges of the Supreme Court issued an explanation and ordered full implementation of the court’s decision on reserved seats.
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