Despite reinstating 76 previously suspended reserved seats across the National and Provincial Assemblies, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not restored three key women’s reserved seats — two belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and one to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).
As a result, the National Assembly currently remains short of three female members on reserved seats, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.
According to details, the ECP has refrained from reinstating the JUI’s seat due to ongoing legal proceedings in the Supreme Court. The case involves a reserved seat contested by candidate Sadaf Ehsan, whom JUI refused to recognise as its nominee. The party has challenged her nomination in court, leaving the matter in limbo until a verdict is issued.
Similarly, two reserved seats belonging to PML-N remain unfilled. These seats, previously held by PML-N members Sobia Shahid and Shehla Bano, became vacant after both women took oaths as members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The party is expected to submit new nominees to the ECP shortly, following which official notifications will be issued.
This development comes just a day after the ECP, in compliance with the Supreme Court's June 27, 2025, ruling, issued fresh notifications reinstating a total of 76 reserved seats that had been previously de-notified under controversial circumstances in July 2024.
The court had ordered the withdrawal of earlier notifications that had wrongfully affiliated independent members with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Of the reinstated seats, the PML-N emerged as the major beneficiary, reclaiming 44 seats across the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. JUI regained 13 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 14, and MQM one, while IPP, PML-Q, ANP, and PTI-Parliamentarians were each allocated one seat.
However, just two days before this restoration, on July 1, 2025, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) threw another wrench into the process. Acting on a petition filed by PTI-Parliamentarians, a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal issued a restraining order, barring the swearing-in of newly appointed members on reserved seats in both national and provincial legislatures.
The PHC raised concerns over the fairness of the ECP’s allocation process and has summoned a response from the commission before allowing further appointments.
Reporter: Usman Khan