Reserved seats case is about fundamental rights of people, observes Justice Minallah
Pakistan
A full court bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is conducting the proceedings
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Justice Athar Minallah on Saturday wrote additional note in the case related to the reserved seats of Sunni Ittehad Council.
The petition was filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council against the denial of reserved seats for women and minorities in the national and provincial assemblies.
A full court bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is conducting the proceedings.
Other judges on the bench are Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
In his note, Justice Athar Minallah stated that in prima facie, the verdict of Supreme Court wasn’t meant to disqualify any party.
Also Read: ECP misinterpreted SC verdict by excluding PTI from elections: Justice Minallah
The misinterpretation of the verdict led the ouster of a major party from the electoral process and voters were deprived of their fundamental rights, he said.
“It is not just the case of reserved seats but it is the case related to the fundamental and constitutional rights of the people,” wrote Justice Minallah in his additional note.
He also sought complete record from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) related to the Feb 8 polls.
“Did the ECP fulfil its constitutional responsibility by providing level playing field to all the political parties,” asked Justice Minallah.
He sought written reply from the ECP regarding the ouster of PTI from the electoral process.
