SC urged to declare Article 223 (2) as ultra vires.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan has been urged to declare Article 223(2) of the Constitution as ultra vires or as an alternative direct the Election Commission of Pakistan to make provision in Election Act, 2017 that a person who wishes to contest elections against more than one seats, shall deposit cost of by-polls for such seats in advance. Muhammad Anwar Mughal had filed a constitutional petition under Article 184(3) in December 2022 before the Supreme Court, but the SC Registrar office raised objections on it. The petitioner on Wednesday filed an appeal against the Registrar's objections.

The petitioner submitted that certain politicians to show they are popular among the masses, file nomination papers from 4 to 5 or more constituencies and even there are certain politicians who submit their nomination papers for the seats of National as well as Provincial Assemblies as per Article 223 of the Constitution. He stated that according to Article 223(2) of the Constitution that the candidates, who are elected from more than one seat, have to choose one seat and has to vacate other seats and thus the Election Commission has to conduct by-elections on such seats as per Article 223(4) by spending huge amount from public exchequer.

For elections of such persons who contest elections on more...