Pakistan Court Awards PTI Over 20 Reserved Seats

Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is eligible for over 20 reserved seats in the National Assembly, including those for women and minorities. This decision, supported by an 8-5 majority, represents a significant legal victory for PTI, which was forced to contest the February 8 elections as independents after being barred from using their electoral symbol. The ruling undermines Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's coalition government by stripping it of its two-thirds majority. Analysts believe this decision could further destabilize the political landscape, highlighting tensions between the PTI and the military-backed government. The Supreme Court's decision invalidates the earlier rulings by the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Peshawar High Court, which had denied PTI these reserved seats.