25 Reserved Seat Members Take Oath in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Legal and Political Tensions

In a significant political development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath of office to 25 members elected on reserved seats in the provincial assembly. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Governor House in Peshawar, following a high-profile legal battle and political tensions between the provincial government and opposition parties.

The 25 members sworn in include 21 women elected on reserved seats for women and 4 members from religious minorities. These members belong to various opposition parties, most notably the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), and PTI Parliamentarians — a breakaway group from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Party-wise Breakdown

The distribution of the 25 reserved seats is as follows:

• Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F): 7 women, 2 minorities

• Pakistan Muslim League (N): 7 women, 1 minority

• Pakistan Peoples Party: 4 women, 1 minority

• Awami National Party: 2 women

• PTI Parliamentarians: 1 woman

This diverse group represents a crucial component of the legislative makeup of the KP Assembly, as reserved seats are intended to ensure the inclusion of women and minority voices in the legislative process.

Legal Intervention Prompted the Ceremony

The oath-taking comes after a controversial delay in the assembly’s internal proceedings. When the KP Assembly convened on July 18, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati adjourned the session due to a lack of quorum, preventing the reserved seat members from being sworn in.

Opposition parties cried foul, accusing the ruling PTI government of deliberately stalling the process to prevent the opposition from gaining numerical strength in the house. As the political deadlock intensified, opposition lawmakers filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court, demanding the implementation of constitutional provisions to allow the new members to take oath.

In response, the High Court directed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to administer the oath to the 25 members without waiting for the assembly session to reconvene. The court’s decision emphasized the constitutional right of elected members to be sworn in and participate in legislative proceedings, regardless of any political maneuvering within the assembly.

A Showdown with the Provincial Government

The KP government, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and backed by the PTI, denounced the court’s decision and the governor’s actions. The government maintained that the oath-taking should only occur within the formal assembly session and under the supervision of the speaker.

Speaking to the media, CM Gandapur termed the governor’s move a “blatant violation of the constitution” and hinted at challenging the High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court. He also accused opposition parties of using judicial channels to override democratic procedures, while opposition leaders claimed the PTI was attempting to cling to power by sidelining the democratic process.

This event is the latest episode in a broader constitutional crisis brewing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the battle for legislative control and procedural authority has increasingly moved from the assembly floor to the courtrooms.

Importance of Reserved Seats

Reserved seats play a vital role in Pakistan’s parliamentary democracy, ensuring gender and minority representation in the legislative process. These seats are allocated to political parties based on the proportion of general seats they win in the assembly. However, as political dynamics shift, these seats can also tilt the balance of power in favor of one bloc or another.

With the swearing-in of these 25 members, opposition parties have effectively strengthened their numbers in the KP Assembly, giving them a greater ability to influence legislation and challenge the government on the floor.

What Happens Next?

The KP Assembly is expected to resume its session on July 24, where the newly sworn-in members are likely to take their seats officially in the legislative chamber. The opposition has indicated it will push for increased oversight of the government’s actions and may even call for a vote of no-confidence if political alliances shift further.

Legal analysts suggest that the governor’s oath-taking move could become a precedent for similar situations in other provinces, especially when there are disputes over procedural delays or political deadlocks. However, the Supreme Court’s stance — if and when the case is taken up — will be decisive in clarifying the constitutional role of the governor versus the assembly speaker in such matters.

Conclusion

The oath-taking of 25 reserved-seat members in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marks a pivotal moment in the province’s political landscape. While it strengthens democratic representation for women and minorities, it also reveals deep fissures in the political and constitutional framework. As the assembly reconvenes in the coming days, all eyes will be on how both the opposition and the government navigate this increasingly complex power struggle.

Reference:   گورنر خیبر پختونخوا نے مخصوص نشستوں پر منتخب 25 اراکین سے حلف لے لیا