LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Thursday reissued a notice to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on an intra court appeal (ICA) of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) against a decision of a single bench wherein the ECP was directed to notify members of the PTI on five reserved seats in the Punjab Assembly.

As the bench resumed its hearing, Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) Shahzad Shaukat said notices had not been served on the respondents.

At this, the bench issued fresh notices to the ECP and PTI’s MPA Sibtain Khan, also opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly.

The bench directed the assembly secretary to ensure service of the notice to the respondent MPA.

The division bench comprising Justice Shahid Karim and Justice Anwaar Hussain adjourned further hearing till July 18.

A single bench had allowed a petition of the PTI and ordered the ECP to issue a notification about the new MPAs on the reserved seats following the disqualification of 25 MPAs over defection during the election of Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz.

The order of the single bench has also been complied with by the ECP.

The appeal of the PML-N argues that the impugned judgement by the single bench is a violation of articles 106(3)(c) and 224(6) of the Constitution. It says the reserved seats in the provincial assembly are allotted based on the number of general seats secured by each political party.

It argues that once fresh election/by-poll for the general seats have taken place, only then can the quota of the reserved seats be recalculated and the vacant reserved seats be filled to truly reflect the strength of the political parties through proportional representation.

The appeal asks the court to set aside the decision passed by the single bench.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2022