Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, has called on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to “show moral courage” by refusing to accept the recently allocated reserved seats, which he insists are the rightful claim of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking to media on Monday, Saif alleged that the reserved seats, originally belonging to PTI, had been put up for “auction” following the Supreme Court’s June 27 decision that declared PTI ineligible for these slots. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) subsequently reallocated five reserved seats for women in the National Assembly and 21 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly — with eight going to JUI-F, six to PML-N, and five to the PPP.
“If the opposition parties have even a shred of moral integrity, they will refuse to accept seats that do not belong to them,” said Saif. “Maulana Fazlur Rehman should follow the example set by [ANP leader] Amir Haider Hoti, who declined to accept any reserved seats.”
The reallocation has raised tensions in the provincial political landscape, particularly as the PTI-led government in KP, headed by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, faces the looming possibility of a no-confidence motion. With 115 elected members currently in the KP Assembly — out of a full strength of 145 — the addition of reserved seats significantly shifts the balance of power.
The revised allocation has bolstered opposition numbers. JUI-F, which had seven elected members, now holds 19 seats after receiving 10 women and two minority seats. The PML-N has grown from six to 15 members with the addition of nine reserved seats. The PPP, with four elected members, now controls 11 seats after receiving six women’s seats and one for minorities.
Barrister Saif reiterated PTI’s longstanding grievances, stating, “First our mandate was snatched through Form 47, and now even our reserved seats are being handed out to others. Despite repeated efforts by the federal government to dismantle PTI, the party remains strong and resilient.”
He further reminded Maulana Fazlur Rehman of his previous opposition to PTI during the 26th Constitutional Amendment process, suggesting a continued political alignment against the party.
The ECP has also announced a revised date of July 21 for the postponed Senate elections in KP, where the new composition of the assembly could prove critical.
As political maneuvering intensifies in the province, PTI continues to frame the situation as part of a broader campaign to marginalize the party — while simultaneously challenging its rivals to adhere to what it calls a higher standard of democratic fairness.
