Domicile for Islamabad Senate candidates urged

The Islamabad High Court (HC) has issued notices to various stakeholders on a petition requesting the mandatory requirement of Islamabad domicile for candidates contesting elections on Islamabad's seats in the Senate.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the application of a former president of the Islamabad High Court Bar, Nayab Gardezi. Barrister SM Yawar appeared on behalf of the petitioner in court.

He argued that two seats in the Senate have been allocated for Islamabad but anyone from across the country can be elected to Islamabad Senate seats. The lawyer requested the court to mandate Islamabad domicile for contesting Senate elections from the federal capital.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) official told the court that the polls oversight authority has no say in this matter as its job is only to conduct elections. “We hold elections accordingly to the relevant law,” he said." The court, issuing notices to the parties concerned, adjourned the hearing until May 14th.