Small parties will not be dissolved, rules Supreme Court

Supreme Court has ruled that small parties that have less than 10,000 members will not be dissolved.

The ruling signed by Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain issued today states that the Supreme Court had earlier declared that signatures of only 3,000 members are required to register a political party.

The ruling details that Elections Commission’s request from political parties with less than 10,000 members to increase membership within three months to meet the requirement stated in Article 27 (b) and (c) of the Political Parties Act, was a violation of an earlier Supreme Court ruling.

The court said that thus, parties with less than 10,000 members will not be dissolved; and informed Elections Commission and all registered political parties that the Elections Commission’s notification is void and should not be implemented.