Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reinstated Sadaf Ihsan as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA), despite her political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P), disavowing her membership. The decision, reached on January 28, 2026, resolves a complicated electoral dispute involving claims of misrepresentation and party list discrepancies, though further challenges to the ruling remain possible.

According to Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), the controversy began after JUI-P claimed Ihsan was not their nominee for a women-reserved seat. Instead, they contended that Sadaf Yasmin was their intended candidate, though she did not file nomination papers. This led Hina Bibi, another party nominee, to assert her entitlement to the seat. In the ensuing legal battle, the ECP initially suspended Ihsan's notification, a decision that was contested up to the Supreme Court and resulted in a remand to the ECP for final adjudication.

The dispute highlighted procedural complexities under Pakistan's electoral framework, specifically regarding the allocation of reserved seats through proportional representation and party lists, as stipulated by Article 51(6)(e) of the Constitution and Section 104 of the Elections Act, 2017. The case also involved a review of party priority lists and alleged errors in candidate nominations.

JUI-P maintained that Sadaf Ihsan was not a legitimate party member and sought the seat for Hina Bibi, while Ihsan defended her longstanding party affiliation, suggesting an internal misunderstanding regarding her and her mother's name. Despite the ECP's decision, the potential for further legal challenges remains, as JUI-P and affected parties weigh their options for appeal.