DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Saif, has stated that if the opposition parties possess even a semblance of moral integrity, they should voluntarily relinquish the reserved seats currently being allocated to them.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Dr. Saif asserted that although the legal and judicial framework is bound by the provisions of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, moral courage is not contingent upon constitutional constraints. He maintained that the reserved seats, in principle and spirit, are the rightful entitlement of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but have now, in his words, been “put up for auction” as a result of a judicial verdict.
He further alleged that the PTI’s mandate was first compromised through the manipulation of election results via Form 47, and now, the distribution of reserved seats among other parties represents yet another attempt to undermine the party’s electoral strength. “The so-called ‘fake government’ has exhausted every possible tactic to eliminate PTI but has failed, and instead, the party has emerged stronger,” Dr. Saif added.
He welcomed the recent remarks of Amir Haider Khan Hoti regarding the refusal to accept reserved seats, describing it as a commendable display of moral principle. Referring to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Dr. Saif said that he had distanced himself from PTI at the time of the 26th Constitutional Amendment and should now also demonstrate Islamic values and moral fortitude by declining the reserved seats.
The advisor criticized what he described as “manipulated decisions” emerging from the judiciary following the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, claiming that these moves had systematically deprived PTI of its rightful representation. He emphasized that the people had elected PTI despite challenges, but their majority was allegedly converted into a minority overnight. Barrister Dr. Saif concluded that while efforts to sideline PTI and its leadership continue, the party remains deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. “Eradicating PTI through undemocratic means may be a dream for some, but it is far from being realized,” he said.
