The verdict cleared that withdrawal  of electoral symbol cannot disqualify a political party from participating in elections.

Major victory for PTI: Imran Khan's part declared eligible for reserved seats by Supreme Court

Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan declared on Friday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is eligible for reserved seats; reserved for women and minorities.

Imran Khan's party has won its more than 20 reserved seats when he is in jail for 11 months.

The 13-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa announced the verdict.

On Monday Election Commission of Pakistan rejected a petition - seeking the allocation of reserved seats - filed by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

After winning seats in National Assembly in February, PTI backed independent candidates had joined SIC as PTI had been deprived of its electoral symbol - "bat".

A day ago, Peshawar High Court rejected the SIC's petition challenging ECP's decision to reject the party allocation of reserved seats.

The decision backed by eight judges was announced by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah declaring PTI a political party.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Athar Minullah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan gave the majority verdict.

Justice Yahya Afridi gave his separate decision.

Justice A, Mainuddin Khan and Justice Naeem Afghan wrote a dissenting note.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandukhel and Justice Qazi Faiz Isa wrote separate dissenting notes.

Not only did PTI win 8-5 in the Supreme Court but 11 judges declared PTI a political party, Sayed Zulfi Bukhari

In March, ECP declared SIC  unqualified for reserved seats and had also decided to distribute the seats, won by PTI independent candidates, among other political parties especially PMLN and PPP. PTI rejected this verdict calling it unconstitutional.

On Friday, Supreme Court has declared the decision of ECP and Peshawar High Court unconstitutional.

Today we have won the legal battle and we will win the political battle too, they wanted to take away reserved seats from us and share them as booty, Barrister Salman Akram Raja