Former MP seeks to revoke constitutional amendments on Majlis seats

Nov 24, 2024, 10:24 AM
Artwork: Ismail Imdhad/ Adhadhu

Artwork: Ismail Imdhad/ Adhadhu

A case has been filed at the Supreme Court today to revoke the amendments to Article 73 of the Constitution.

The case was submitted by lawyer Ali Hussain who previously served as the MP for Kendhoo constituency.

Last week, a subsection (e) was added to Article 73 of the Constitution, specifying new conditions for the removal of MPs.

With the new amendments, MPs will lose their seat if they defect from the political party under whose ticket they were elected, join a political party after being elected as an independent candidate, or voluntarily leave or are expelled from their political party while in office.

In his case submitted to the top court, Ali Hussain argued that the amendments were unconstitutional as they contravened the basic principles in Articles 4, 8, 5, 26, 75 and 90 of the Constitution.

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Ali Hussain requested the Supreme Court to declare that the amendments were constitutionally invalid. He also asked the court to decide that it would not apply to the MPs of the current 20th Parliament during its period in force.

Many legal experts and civil society organizations have expressed concern over the amendments rushed through the government-controlled Parliament.

The constitution was changed within a few hours with the votes of 78 MPs. Several political jobs have been announced since the Parliament vote last week.

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