Elections to a parliamentary seat that fell vacant after an MP lost his membership of the house will be held in September, it has been announced.
On July 10, the Cassation Court revoked Mohammed Al Hussaini’s membership of the House of Representatives for failing to disclose that he also had another nationality at the time of contesting parliamentary polls in 2022.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Nawaf Al Maawda said yesterday that voting for Muharraq Governorate constituency one seat will take place on September 7, and September 14 in case of a run-off, from 8am to 8pm in the area’s polling centre to be announced at a later date.
Voting overseas will be held on September 3, and September 10 in case of a run-off.
Eligible candidates, aged 30 and above, have been urged to register their names from August 8 to 10.
Mr Al Maawda has appointed Legalisation and Legal Opinion Commission president Nawaf Hamza to oversee the elections.
Mr Al Maawda
The GDN last week reported that a Muharraq MP had offered to ‘fill the void’ as best he can and serve residents from the constituency.
Muharraq Governorate constituency two (Middle Muharraq – Station) MP Hamad Al Doy called on residents of constituency one (Busaiteen and Al Sayah) to visit his office if they needed assistance until a new MP is elected.
GDN Media first highlighted the case on June 29 as Mr Al Hussaini appeared in court facing charges of not disclosing the other nationality – Pakistani – at the time of applying for nomination to Parliament.
Mr Al Hussaini nominated himself for the same constituency in 2014 and lost in the first round. He then reached the run-off in 2018 losing to Mr Al Kooheji and finally secured the seat in 2022 beating Dr Essam Al Alawi in the second round.
His biography, photographs and statistics related to his parliamentary endeavours were deleted from Parliament’s website shortly after the Cassation Court verdict was relayed to Parliament.
Mr Al Hussaini announced that he was quitting political life and planned to return to ‘research and writing’.
By law, it is impossible for him to ever run for Parliament again or be appointed to the Shura Council as the GDN received clarification that Pakistani nationality is ‘for life’ and cannot be revoked or later exchanged for another.
A candidate who received only 50 votes during the 2022 Parliament elections is planning to put his name forward once again to replace Mr Al Hussaini.
Saleh Abdullah Al Sadah was placed last amongst 13 candidates in the constituency.
He posted on social media that he had ‘received many calls’ asking him to step forward again and ‘after Quranic blessings’ he will put his name in the frame once the opportunity formally arises.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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