PML-N Files Petition in Peshawar High Court Over Delay in Taking Oath of KP Assembly’s Reserved Seats
Peshawar:The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court, seeking immediate action to swear in members elected for reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly. The petition highlights the delay in the oath-taking process for members nominated to the provincial assembly’s reserved seats.
According to the petition, the PML-N’s nominated members, including six women and one minority member, have sent a formal letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) urging that they are being subjected to unnecessary delays in taking their oath.
In the letter, the nominated members point out that the Election Commission had issued the list of elected members for reserved seats on July 2. However, despite this, the oath-taking process has been repeatedly delayed, preventing them from assuming their roles in the assembly and casting votes. The petitioners emphasize that under the 1973 Constitution, it is mandatory to take an oath before a member can participate in the assembly or vote.
The letter also mentions that the Supreme Court had issued directives on June 27 regarding the election of reserved seats, but despite these instructions, the necessary procedures have not been followed. The concerned members have made multiple requests to the Speaker of the KP Assembly to take their oaths, but their appeals have been ignored, according to the letter.
The petition further requests the Peshawar High Court’s Chief Justice to intervene and appoint a person for oath-taking under Article 255 of the Constitution. The PML-N has called on the Election Commission to approach the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court to take the necessary steps to ensure that the members take their oath promptly.
It is worth noting that the Senate elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are scheduled to be held on July 21, and the delay in oath-taking could potentially affect the political process leading up to those elections.
