Islamabad, In a move to streamline the post-election process, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has called on candidates who emerged victorious in more than one constituency during the February 8 elections to vacate their additional seats before the official oath-taking ceremony. This directive is aimed at those who have won multiple seats across various legislative bodies in the country.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ECP has provided guidelines for the candidates to formally renounce their extra seats. They are required to submit their applications to vacate the additional seats either at the office of the Chief Election Commissioner at the Election Commission of Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad or at the offices of the Provincial Election Commissioners in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. This step is in accordance with Article 223(2) of the constitution, which mandates that if a candidate does not take action within 30 days, all seats except the one they opt to retain will automatically be considered vacant.

The instruction is part of the ECP’s efforts to ensure that each elected official holds only one legislative seat, thereby allowing the vacant positions to be filled without delay and the legislative process to proceed smoothly.