Islamabad, The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a directive for winning candidates of the 2024 general elections, who have secured more than one seat, to vacate one of their seats before the oath-taking ceremony. This move is aimed at ensuring that legislators comply with the requirement to serve in a single capacity within the legislative bodies.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ECP has called on these candidates to submit their applications indicating the seat they wish to relinquish. These applications can be submitted to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner in Islamabad or to the Provincial Election Commissioner offices in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. The process requires candidates to make their selection on which seat to retain before they can be officially sworn in as legislators.

This requirement is part of the ECP’s efforts to streamline the legislative process and ensure that representation in the parliament and provincial assemblies is effectively managed. By mandating that elected officials vacate additional seats, the ECP aims to prevent any conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of the legislative bodies.

The directive underscores the ECP’s commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and good governance, ensuring that elected representatives can focus their efforts and resources on serving their constituents from a single electoral mandate.