The Peshawar High Court (PHC) stepped in on Sunday after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session was adjourned due to a lack of quorum, delaying the oath-taking of lawmakers elected on reserved seats. Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Atique Shah appointed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to oversee the process, following a petition filed by opposition members seeking immediate resolution.
The session, which began after a two-hour delay, was abruptly adjourned when PTI MPA Sher Ali Afridi pointed out the lack of quorum. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati ordered a headcount and adjourned proceedings until July 24. The PTI’s boycott came after a parliamentary party meeting decided to skip the sitting, further escalating tensions.
Opposition lawmakers condemned the move, with a PML-N MPA stating, “This is not the right way… we’ve been denied our right to take the oath for two years.” The disruption occurred during Quranic recitation, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition benches.
At least 21 women and four minority members were scheduled to take their oaths today, but the political standoff has left their swearing-in in limbo. The PHC’s intervention highlights the deepening rift between the ruling and opposition parties in KP.