ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party will decide whether to appeal a Supreme Court verdict involving reserved parliamentary seats for women and minorities, which favored its archrival and former premier Imran Khan and his party, said a prominent government functionary on Saturday.
The top court handed a major legal victory to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Friday, declaring it was eligible for these seats after being turned down by the country’s election commission, which noted they could only be distributed among political parties based on the number of seats won by them in the national polls.
PTI candidates had contested the February 8 elections as independents after the Supreme Court revoked their party symbol due to intra-party elections deemed as flawed. Despite emerging as the single largest bloc in the National Assembly, PTI-backed candidates were denied their share of reserved seats, which were subsequently allocated to PML-N and its coalition partners.
The Supreme Court, however, criticized the election authority for misconstruing its verdict on the election symbol, affirming that PTI was and remains a political party.
“This decision will be made on Monday,” Federal Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif told a news conference in Sialkot when asked if the PML-N would appeal the Supreme Court verdict.
“Whatever our position in parliament is, it will make the decision,” he continued. “I don’t think it is appropriate to comment on whether to appeal or not, or what the reaction should be at this time.”
Asif maintained the ruling party’s reaction would be within the legal and constitutional framework.
“We will definitely adopt the process provided by the constitution and law to seek relief,” he said. “However, this will be a collective decision that we will follow.”
Legal experts believe the Supreme Court’s verdict would pose a challenge to the ruling coalition that may require PTI’s support with some legislations.
Asif said the top court had “opened the Pandora’s box” with its verdict that could prove “dangerous” for the country.
Meanwhile, local media outlets widely reported the PML-N founder and three-time, former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif had summoned a party meeting on Monday that would be held in Murree.
All of the top PML-N leaders are expected to be present to evaluate the Supreme Court decision and determine their course of action.
The party’s legal team will also brief the participants and highlight various options open to them.
Pakistan’s ruling party to evaluate Supreme Court reserved seats verdict on Monday
https://arab.news/bvx7r
Pakistan’s ruling party to evaluate Supreme Court reserved seats verdict on Monday
- Khawaja Asif says the top court has ‘opened the Pandora’s box’ with its ‘dangerous’ verdict
- PML-N founding leader Nawaz Sharif may hold a meeting in Murree to evaluate the situation
Pakistan forms committee to negotiate financial advisory services for Islamabad airport privatization
- Committee to engage Asian Development Bank to negotiate terms of financial advisory services agreement, says privatization ministry
- Inaugurated in 2018, Islamabad airport has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities and operational inefficiencies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Privatization Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has formed a committee to engage the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to negotiate a potential financial advisory services agreement for the privatization of Islamabad International Airport.
The Islamabad International Airport, inaugurated in 2018 at a cost of over $1 billion, has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities, and operational inefficiencies.
The Negotiation Committee formed by the Privatization Commission will engage with the ADB to negotiate the terms of a potential Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) for the airport’s privatization, the ministry said.
“The Negotiation Committee has been mandated to undertake negotiations and submit its recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval, in line with the applicable regulatory framework,” the Privatization Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Islamabad airport operations will be outsourced under a concession model through an open and competitive process to enhance its operational efficiency and improve service delivery standards.
Pakistan has recently sought to privatize or outsource management of several state-run enterprises under conditions agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion bailout approved in September last year.
Islamabad hopes outsourcing airport operations will bring operational expertise, enhance passenger experience and restore confidence in the aviation sector.
In December 2025, Pakistan’s government successfully privatized its national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), selling 75 percent of its stakes to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group.
The group secured a 75 percent stake in the PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after several rounds of bidding, valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said this week the government has handed over 26 state-owned enterprises to the Privatization Commission.
