The Elections Commission is making preparations to hold by-elections for the constituencies represented by 12 lawmakers who were previously dismissed but reinstated by a Supreme Court ruling.
Ahmed Shareef, chief of the Elections Commission, said that their legal team has informed that the 12 lawmakers have legally lost their seats in parliament.
While the Supreme Court had ordered their reinstatement in a contentious ruling on February 1st, the parliament’s later passing and the subsequent ratification of an anti-defection law warrants their dismissal.
According to the constitution, disputes over the validity of parliament seats has to be decided by the Supreme Court. The apex court has yet to state that they have been disqualified.
The Elections Commission initially dismissed them following a Supreme Court ruling on a case filed by the Attorney General’s Office, although the court had advised that a law on the matter be passed first.
The commission previously said that they had been undecided on holding by-elections because the matter had been in court. The Supreme Court earlier this month validated the anti-defection law.
