PHC dismisses Gandapur’s petition on PTI members’ independent status

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, challenging the decision to declare Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) assembly members as independents.

The court announced its reserved verdict, effectively rejecting the former chief minister’s plea.

Gandapur had approached the PHC against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) move to classify PTI-backed lawmakers as independent members. His petition also challenged Election Rules 94, arguing that the ECP had acted beyond its mandate.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer contended that the Election Commission had wrongly declared PTI members independent despite their affiliation with the party. However, the ECP’s counsel argued that the matter had already been settled, noting that both a five-member bench of the Peshawar High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court had issued decisions related to reserved seats.

A lawyer representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) maintained that the constitutional bench had already ruled on review petitions, leaving no room for further litigation on the issue.

With today’s decision, the court reaffirmed that the matter stands concluded, bringing an end to Ali Amin Gandapur’s legal challenge.