SC rejects plea to ban candidates contesting from multiple constituencies

Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a petition seeking to impose a ban on candidates contesting elections from multiple constituencies, with the bench citing constitutional limitations.

The petition, filed by a legal representative, argued that contesting elections from more than one constituency violated the Constitution and legal principles, Express News reported.

However, Justice Musarrat Hilali remarked, "We can annul laws, but we cannot make new ones." Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar added, "If you are challenging the Elections Act, that's a separate matter."

The petitioner's lawyer argued that the principle of "one person, one vote" should apply to elections, and that allowing candidates to contest multiple constituencies undermined this basic democratic concept.

He also criticised the practice of candidates running for seats in areas where they do not even have a registered vote.

Justice Ameenuddin Khan countered, stating, "If the law allowed a candidate to not vote for themselves, your argument would hold."

Justice Jamal Mandokhel said that the law requires the proposer and seconder to be from the same constituency, and since the legislature has allowed this, you cannot question the intent of the legislature.

"You cannot question the intent of the legislature," he added.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi remarked that it would be better for the petitioner to persuade the political leadership.

The constitutional bench upheld the objections raised by the Registrar’s office and dismissed the petition.