ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has accepted review petitions with a narrow 7-6 majority and overturned its earlier ruling that granted reserved seats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The court upheld the earlier verdict of the Peshawar High Court, meaning that reserved seats will now go to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and other allied parties.
The case concluded after the Attorney General completed his arguments. Justice Aminuddin Khan, who headed the constitutional bench, announced a short verdict shortly after, confirming the acceptance of the review petitions.
The seven judges who ruled in favour of the review included: Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal, Justice Hashim Kakar, Justice Aamer Farooq, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi.
Meanwhile, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar supported the review conditionally, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail stood by his original dissenting opinion.
This was the 17th hearing on the matter. Earlier, on July 12, 2024, a 13-member full court bench had granted reserved seats to PTI with an 8-5 majority. However, review petitions were later filed by PML-N, PPP, and the Election Commission of Pakistan in July and August.
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On May 6, the court took up these review petitions again. Two judges – Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Aqeel Abbasi – rejected the petitions and stepped down from the bench. Justice Salahuddin Panhwar also recused himself during the 17th hearing.
Legal arguments were presented by Faisal Siddiqi and Hamid Khan for the Sunni Ittehad Council, while Salman Akram Raja represented PTI. Written submissions were also filed by the Election Commission, PML-N, and PPP.
