The political situation in the KP Assembly has taken a sharp turn after the restoration of reserved seats. This recent development has tilted the power dynamics and given the opposition a fresh edge in the provincial legislature.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has formally notified 25 reserved seats—21 for women and 4 for minorities. These new additions have pushed the opposition’s total strength in the KP Assembly to 52 members.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) now leads the opposition ranks. The party holds 19 seats, which includes eight women and two minority members. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also grown stronger with 16 seats after receiving six women and one minority seat. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) now commands 11 seats, thanks to five women and one minority member added through the new notification.
The Awami National Party (ANP) and PTI Parliamentarians (PTI-P) have also made modest gains, each securing one reserved seat.
Despite these changes, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) still retains a majority in the KP Assembly with 94 members. However, this majority is fragile. Out of these 94, 35 are independents, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur himself. Many of these independents failed to file their political affiliation affidavits within the required three-day window after the election. This technical lapse could pose a legal challenge to their legitimacy.
CM Gandapur, however, appears unfazed by the shifting political climate. In a bold statement, he said, “I dare the opposition to topple my government. If they succeed, I will quit politics.” He insisted that his administration remains stable and strong, even after the opposition’s gains.
This power shift follows a major ruling by the Supreme Court. The court reversed its earlier July 12 decision and upheld the Peshawar High Court’s verdict. As a result, the Sunni Ittehad Council has lost all its reserved seats and now holds no representation in the KP Assembly.
The new arrangement has not only boosted the opposition but also exposed cracks within the ruling side. With the Supreme Court’s judgment and the Election Commission’s notification, the political battle inside the KP Assembly has entered a new phase.
