PHC Orders KP Assembly Session within Fortnight

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued a directive for the newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assembly session to be convened within a fortnight, addressing the contentious issue of members unable to take oath on reserved seats.

Justice SM Atiq Shah, presiding over the case, delivered a comprehensive 24-page judgment, delving into the legal complexities surrounding the matter.

The court’s ruling mandates the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the provincial cabinet to promptly convene a meeting of the KP Assembly, as per Article 105 of the Constitution, which stipulates the assembly’s summoning within 14 days.

Ahead of the upcoming Senate elections, the PHC has directed that the newly elected members must be sworn in without delay. Furthermore, the court has specifically instructed the Speaker of the KP Assembly to administer the oath to members holding special seats.

The ruling underscores that the obstruction of newly elected members from taking oath on designated seats constitutes a violation of the Constitution, emphasizing the paramount importance of upholding the democratic process.