After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) delivered a decisive blow to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) by rejecting its plea for reserved seats, the details of the quota being divided among other parties have surfaced.
In its verdict, the ECP firmly asserted that the Sunni Ittehad Council was not entitled to a reserved quota for women and minorities.
As per the documents possessed by Samaa TV, among the reserved minority seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured two seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) clinched one out of the quota that was claimed by the SIC.
Additionally, the PML-N secured another 19 seats reserved for women, further consolidating its position in the assembly. The PPP and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) each secured one seat in this category.
After the allocation of more women and minority seats, the respective positions of these parties has further strengthened in the provincial assembly.
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The PML-N has secured two additional seats of minorities, which have been allocated to Tariq Masih and Wasim Anjum. Additionally, Basru Ji has joined the assembly on behalf of the PPP, further diversifying the representation within the legislative body.
In terms of reserved seats for women, the PML-N now holds the maximum number with 57 in the Punjab Assembly, the PPP has four, the PML-Q three, and the IPP has two seats in all.
ECP seeks PML-N names for 9 more women's seats
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan has taken steps to ensure smooth electoral processes. It has announced that the PML-N's priority list for women's seats in the National Assembly from Punjab has been exhausted. It has requested that the party submit the names for nine seats in the National Assembly by March 9.
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The ECP has also declared that nomination papers for reserved seats can be submitted until March 9, with the list of candidates scheduled to be displayed on March 20.
To oversee these proceedings, Joint Punjab Election Commissioner Abdul Hafeez has been appointed as the returning officer, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the electoral process.
As these developments unfold, stakeholders remain vigilant, ensuring that the democratic process is upheld and that diverse voices are represented in the legislative arena.
