THE ongoing process of submitting nomination papers has revealed that many candidates, especially heads of major political parties, aspire to contest elections from more than two constituencies at a time.

Some leaders have decided to contest elections simultaneously from five constituencies of the National Assembly. This process bars the voters from choosing a local candidate and imposes upon them a distant candidate. This inhibits the development of local political leadership to emerge in the national arena also betrays the top-brass party leaders’ suspicions regarding their victory in their home constituencies.

This also shows their distrust of their own constituency’s voters.

After the general elections, in most cases, successful candidates retain their native constituencies and withdraw from remote ones.

This results in by-elections which cost the national exchequer and taxpayers millions of rupees.

Why should the national kitty and taxpayers bear these expenses for the politicians’ benefit?

I request the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Election Commission of Pakistan to issue orders to the effect that candidates aspiring to contest elections from more than two constituencies will themselves bear the state expenses incurred in holding by-elections.

This will certainly confine major political figures to only two constituencies and provide an opportunity to local politicians to contest elections.

Ghani-ur-Rahman

Islamabad

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IT has been observed in the past that one person was allowed to contest election from more than one seat. Party leaders and other popular candidates usually opted for contesting from many constituencies.

In case of winning more than one seat, the candidate had to relinquish from all seats except one. The left over seats are declared vacant and supplementary elections held.

This is sheer waste of time and money. Holding elections is not a sport. It involves both precious time and money.

The Election Commission of Pakistan should come out with a solution in this regard. It should introduce ‘one candidate one candidature policy’, while runner-up candidates should be declared the winners on the leftover seats.

Muhammad Javed

Lahore

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2018