The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) has initiated legal action against what it perceives as an unjust move by the Election Commission of Pakistan to not allocate its share of reserved seats in Punjab, and filed a challenge in the Lahore High Court.

Sahibzada Hamid Raza, representing the SIC, submitted an application in the court, naming the commission and other relevant parties as respondents.

The crux of the matter lies in the allocation of reserved seats in Punjab, which the SIC claims it was denied despite repeated requests. According to the petitioner, the election commission failed to adhere to established rules and laws, prompting them to seek legal recourse.

The petitioner highlighted that they had made four formal requests to the election commission, seeking allocation of reserved seats. However, instead of addressing their concerns, the ECP scheduled the application for a preliminary hearing, further exacerbating the issue.

Also Read: SIC moves LHC over denial of reserved seats in Punjab Assembly

Furthermore, the petitioner argued that Section 104 of the Elections Act contradicts Article 51 of the Constitution. They contended that the election commission lacks the authority of a tribunal or court, thereby urging the court to declare Section 104 and Rule 94 of the Elections Act as unconstitutional.

The legal challenge underscores the Sunni Ittehad Council's determination to address what they perceive as a violation of their rights within the electoral framework. The outcome of the court's decision will likely have significant implications for the electoral process and the interpretation of relevant laws.

On Wednesday, the SIC had challenged the ECP's decision to deny them reserved seats in the Punjab Assembly, in the Lahore High Court. The ECP had previously rejected the SIC’s request, citing their failure to submit the required list of candidates before the elections.

Also Read: PTI to move court against ECP's decision on reserved seats

A citizen named Mian Shabbir Ismail petitioned the court, asserting that the ECP, though not a tribunal or court, should allocate reserved seats in line with Assembly representation.

Contesting the electoral watchdog’s decision, the petitioner argues that denying the Sunni Ittehad Council reserved seats amounts to constitutional overreach. Specifically, Section 104 Rule 94 of the Election Act is challenged as unconstitutional.