The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday rejected an application filed by Hina Bibi seeking the de-notification of Sadaf Ehsan from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s (JUI) reserved seat for women in the National Assembly.The ECP announced its reserved verdict on Wednesday in the matter concerning JUI’s women’s reserved seat in the National Assembly. 

Hina Bibi of the JUI had filed the application, arguing that Sadaf Ehsan’s name was not included in the party’s priority list for allocation of the reserved seat. After hearing the case, the Election Commission decided to retain the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's Sadaf Ehsan as a member of the National Assembly. Following the decision, Hina Bibi may now approach the election tribunal to challenge the ECP’s ruling in favour of Sadaf Ehsan. 

It is pertinent to note that on July 3, 2025, the ECP did not restore the JUI’s women’s reserved seat in the National Assembly, leaving the lower house short of a female member on reserved seats. The ECP had refrained from reinstating the JUI seat due to ongoing legal proceedings in the Supreme Court. The case involves a woman’s reserved seat contested by Sadaf Ehsan, whose nomination was not recognised by the JUI, prompting the party to challenge her candidature in court. 

The matter has remained unresolved pending a final verdict from the Supreme Court, while the ECP has also withheld restoration of two reserved seats belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. This development comes a day after the ECP, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s June 27, 2025, ruling, issued fresh notifications restoring a total of 76 reserved seats that had been de-notified under controversial circumstances in July 2024.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)