The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally notified Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) governor and chief minister that members elected on reserved seats cannot participate in the provincial assembly session or vote in the Senate elections unless they take their oaths. With the Senate polls scheduled for July 21, ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan emphasized the constitutional obligation to complete the electoral college, urging immediate action to administer oaths to the notified MPAs.
In letters to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the ECP cited the Supreme Court’s verdict and highlighted that while successful candidates for women and non-Muslim seats were notified on July 2, their inability to take the oath has stalled the process. The KP Assembly Speaker had earlier informed the ECP that he could not convene a session, as the assembly was not currently in session.
The ECP invoked Article 109 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to summon the provincial assembly at his discretion. The commission urged the governor to exercise this authority to ensure oath-taking and the smooth conduct of Senate elections. Separately, the ECP reminded the chief minister of the Peshawar High Court’s March 2024 judgment, which directed the provincial cabinet to facilitate the summoning of the assembly under Article 105.
With the Senate elections looming, the ECP’s intervention underscores the risk of incomplete representation if oaths are delayed. The letters stress constitutional and legal imperatives, pressing KP’s leadership to act swiftly. Failure to do so could disrupt the electoral process and raise questions about adherence to democratic norms. The coming days will reveal whether the province’s administration heeds the ECP’s call or faces further legal and procedural hurdles.