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ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistani are most likely to exercise their right of franchise in the next general elections as a special inter-ministerial committee has firmed up a unanimously agreed mechanism for the approval of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Headed by the secretary Election Commission and comprising representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Nadra, the committee conceded that the overseas Pakistanis have the constitutional right to vote.
After weighing different options, the committee in its meeting held early this week at the EC office agreed to introduce postal ballot system for overseas Pakistanis on similar fashion as the system of postal balloting works for government servants and armed forces personnel within the country.
In addition to facilitating these overseas Pakistanis to exercise the right of franchise, the committee also considered to give the same right to the holders of P-Origin card. However, it would require certain amendments in the statutes like Pakistan Citizen Act and Electoral Roll Act for the reason that such persons had surrendered their Pakistani nationality.
The recommendations of the committee would be presented before the Election Commission for immediate implementation so that millions of bona fide Pakistanis, working or living abroad, should be facilitated to cast their vote in the next general elections.
According to the sources the special committee, which was constituted following Prime Minister Gilani’s directive in 2009 to consider the demand for grant of voting right to overseas Pakistani, after evaluating the constitutional and legal provisions concluded that the overseas Pakistanis have the constitutional right to vote.
It was observed that like the local residents, who are provided National Identity Cards on attaining the age of 18, the non-resident (overseas) Pakistanis are issued NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) by Nadra.
In views of these realities, the committee concluded that to allow the overseas Pakistanis to vote in the next general elections does not need any change in the constitution or the statutes. Instead it merely needs facilitation of the government and the Election Commission to enable the overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right of franchise.
To enable them to cast their votes in the elections, the committee said on the basis of NICOP they would be registered as voters in the electoral rolls of their respective constituency at home. This would allow them to vote for any of their choice candidates in their respective constituencies in Pakistan. The system of postal balloting is considered as the most suitable and viable for the overseas Pakistanis.
http://images.thenews.com.pk/14-10-2...ews/t-9534.htm
I have heard that final decision would take place in some days.
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I think they should use online votin instead of postal voting as most suitable system.
Headed by the secretary Election Commission and comprising representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Nadra, the committee conceded that the overseas Pakistanis have the constitutional right to vote.
After weighing different options, the committee in its meeting held early this week at the EC office agreed to introduce postal ballot system for overseas Pakistanis on similar fashion as the system of postal balloting works for government servants and armed forces personnel within the country.
In addition to facilitating these overseas Pakistanis to exercise the right of franchise, the committee also considered to give the same right to the holders of P-Origin card. However, it would require certain amendments in the statutes like Pakistan Citizen Act and Electoral Roll Act for the reason that such persons had surrendered their Pakistani nationality.
The recommendations of the committee would be presented before the Election Commission for immediate implementation so that millions of bona fide Pakistanis, working or living abroad, should be facilitated to cast their vote in the next general elections.
According to the sources the special committee, which was constituted following Prime Minister Gilani’s directive in 2009 to consider the demand for grant of voting right to overseas Pakistani, after evaluating the constitutional and legal provisions concluded that the overseas Pakistanis have the constitutional right to vote.
It was observed that like the local residents, who are provided National Identity Cards on attaining the age of 18, the non-resident (overseas) Pakistanis are issued NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) by Nadra.
In views of these realities, the committee concluded that to allow the overseas Pakistanis to vote in the next general elections does not need any change in the constitution or the statutes. Instead it merely needs facilitation of the government and the Election Commission to enable the overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right of franchise.
To enable them to cast their votes in the elections, the committee said on the basis of NICOP they would be registered as voters in the electoral rolls of their respective constituency at home. This would allow them to vote for any of their choice candidates in their respective constituencies in Pakistan. The system of postal balloting is considered as the most suitable and viable for the overseas Pakistanis.
http://images.thenews.com.pk/14-10-2...ews/t-9534.htm
I have heard that final decision would take place in some days.
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I think they should use online votin instead of postal voting as most suitable system.
