The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided not to allot reserved seats to the Sunni Unity Council (SIC), 24News HD TV Channel reported on Monday.

The ECP issued its reserved decision on the allotment of reserved seats to the SIC with a ratio of 1-4 as Punjab Election Commission member Babar Hassan Bharwana gave a dissenting note.

The commission has decided to allot all the vacant reserved seats to other parties.

The commission said in the written decision that the SIC is not entitled to reserved seats in the assemblies as it has not submitted the priority lists for reserved seats on time. 

Babar Hassan Bharwana wrote that he 'agreed with other commission members to the extent that these seats cannot be allotted to the SIC but that these reserved seats should be kept vacant until the amendment of Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution.

SIC describes decision as unconstitutional

The Sunni Ittehad Council leadership described the ECP decision as unconstitutional. SIC Chairman Hamid Raza declared the ECP decision unconstitutional and demanded resignations from all the commission members

Senator Ali Zafar dubbed the decision unconstitutional, saying the commission deprived the council of its constitutional right.

He said: " According to the Constitution, all the seats should be given to the council. If the assemblies are not formed completely, Senate elections cannot be held,

He demanded the postponement of the Senate and presidential elections. Ali Zafar also demanded the resignation of Election Commission members.

PTI to challenge ECP verdict

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf decided to challenge the ECP decision. Umer Ayub Khan called an urgent meeting of the party bigwigs to mull over the matter.

After the decision, the SIC-PTI has lost 10 reserved seats for women in the National Assembly and 21 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly.

Last Wednesday, the ECP postponed its decision about the appeals over the SIC's allocation of reserved seats.

In these appeals, independents endorsed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) joined the party leadership after winning their respective seats.

PTI attorney Ali Zafar, SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan presented their argument in favour of their right to have reserved seats.

Reporter: Usman Khan and Rozina Ali