In majority 7–5 ruling, Supreme Court accepts review petitions, sets aside its earlier July 12, 2024 verdict that granted reserved seats to PTI, and reinstates PHC’s decision.
ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-June 27th, 2025) The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday accepted the review petitions against its earlier verdict granting reserved seats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and nullified the decision, restoring the judgment of the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
The court announced its short verdict after completion of arguments by the Attorney General in the reserved seats case. Justice Aminuddin Khan, who headed the constitutional bench, stated that a short order would be announced shortly.
In the majority 7–5 ruling, the Supreme Court accepted the review petitions, set aside its earlier July 12, 2024 verdict that granted reserved seats to PTI, and reinstated the PHC’s decision.
The majority opinion was delivered by seven judges including Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal, Justice Hashim Kakar, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi.
According to the verdict, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar recused himself from the bench, while Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Aqeel Abbasi had dismissed the review petitions at the initial stage of hearings.
Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar gave a conditional concurrence with the review, stating that the Election Commission should re-examine the records to determine the rightful allocation of reserved seats.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail retained his dissenting opinion regarding 39 seats and did not agree with the majority verdict in its entirety.
The four-page short written order, signed by 10 of the 12 judges on the bench, confirmed that the constitutional bench comprised 13 judges. It noted that two judges had dismissed the petitions on the first day, and one had recused himself during the 17th hearing.
The verdict stated that the review petitions had been accepted by a majority of seven judges, and thus, the Supreme Court's July 12 majority judgment was declared void. The PHC’s ruling—which had denied PTI the reserved seats—was restored.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi directed the Election Commission to review the nomination of 80 candidates afresh and issue a decision within 15 days.
The reserved seats case had been under review in the apex court since early May.
The full court had delivered the original decision on July 12, 2024, by a majority of 8–5 in favor of PTI. However, the PML-N, PPP, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) later filed review petitions in July and August.
Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Aqeel Abbasi exited the proceedings on May 6 after rejecting the review petitions. Justice Salahuddin Panhwar withdrew from the case during the 17th and final hearing.
The ECP, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also submitted their written arguments during the course of the hearings.
From the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), lawyers Faisal Siddiqi and Hamid Khan argued the case while Salman Akram Raja represented PTI.
It may be mentioned here that the Peshawar High Court had previously dismissed petitions filed by SIC regarding the reserved seats on March 14, 2024.
