On Thursday July 11th, the Supreme Court of Pakistan delivered it’s much awaited judgment that had beholden the public attention since several weeks. In a 8-5 majority judgment, the top court allowed the PTI a berth in the national and provincial assemblies and allowed the PTI-aligned independent members of national and provincial legislatures to identify and register themselves as part of the political party, which was denied the electoral symbol in the general elections held in February this year.
The verdict is also laid bare growing polarization among the bench with some judges seemingly delivering a judgment more favorable to the PTI. The verdict was hailed by some sections as a setback to the Chief Justice Qazi Faez Esa, renowned for his constitutional stance and unprecedented judicial independence and transparency, whose judgement was in minority.
The PTI also stands to gain a major chunk of reserved seats for women and minorities in national and provincial legislature at the expense of the ruling coalition comprising of PML, PPP and other partners.
The governing coalition and the Election Commission of Pakistan, a constitutional body is likely to file a review petition against the damaging verdict.
