Why PTI ‘committed suicide’ by joining SIC, says CJP during reserved seats case hearing

ISLAMABAD: A 13-member full court bench of the Supreme Court resumed hearing a petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), an ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenging Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to deny it reserved seats in assemblies.

The Supreme Court (SC) full court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Iss, comprising Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, Aminuddin Khan, Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Athar Minallah, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Shahid Waheed, Irfan Saadat Khan and Naeem Akhtar Afghan has resumed hearing the case.

CJP Qazi Faez Isa on Monday during a hearing questioned why Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) committed suicide by joining the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) when it was already a political party.

“Why did the independent candidates leave PTI when it is a political party? Why did you commit suicide by joining another party which goes against your arguments?” asked the chief justice.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had joined hands with the SIC after the February 8 elections to sit in the National and Punjab Assembly after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stripped the party of its electoral symbol, a decision upheld by the top court.

In a reply submitted to the apex court, the ECP maintained that SIC failed to submit the list of nominees for the reserved seats by the deadline of December 24. The ECP added that it asked the independent candidates to join the SIC after the elections.

“According to the constitution of the SIC, a non-Muslim cannot become a member of the party. The provision against the inclusion of non-Muslims in the constitution of SIC is unconstitutional, answer. The SIC is not entitled to reserved seats for women and minorities,” the ECP reply added.

On May 6, the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, including Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict on the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) reserved seats.