Increasing or decreasing seats of national & provincial assemblies is not possible without amending the Constitution: ECP

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (SABAH): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rebutted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council’s statement regarding reduction of National Assembly seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ECP termed the statement as baseless and contrary to facts as well as an attempt to create confusion in the minds of the people.

The commission said that the erstwhile FATA was merged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 in light of the 25th Constitutional Amendment. It added that 12 National Assembly seats of FATA were abolished and instead six seats of the Lower House were reserved for that area. It said those six seats were added to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s quota, raising the province’s representation from 39 to 45 seats in the National Assembly.

Similarly, 16 general seats were increased in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly after which the number of seats surged from 99 to 115.

The Election Commission made it clear that increasing or decreasing seats of national and provincial assemblies is not possible without amending the Constitution, which is a sole prerogative of the Parliament.

It said the ECP is performing its duties according to the constitution and law without any pressure.

Regarding another matter, the ECP also made it clear that it takes all decisions with mutual consultation and as per law. It said all the four members of the commission has reposed their unwavering trust in the Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Sikandar Sultan Raja and reiterated that all the decisions, taken so far, by the commission were made with mutual consultation.

The commission further said that seats quota of all the districts was also decided with mutual consent and in view of the legal requirements.  It said that the objections regarding District Hafizabad were also decided by the five-member bench of the commission with complete harmony.