Updated on
Summary CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has observed non residents Pakistanis be given the right to vote.
A 2-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) comprising CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja took up the petitions filed by Imran Khan and Jamaat-e-Islami regarding entry of bogus votes in electoral lists.CJP remarked overseas Pakistanis should be given the right to vote. From 20 to 25 countries have adopted the method of postal ballot with regard to overseas, he added. Government was of the view problems were being faced in terms of its methodology.Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked election was ahead. Rashid A Rizvi counsel for JI said the votes of those living in Karachi since the last 30 to 35 years have been registered on their rural areas addresses while these voters should have been enrolled in electoral lists on their permanent addresses.Court observed it was laid down in the laws of election commission that it is up to voters if they want to be enrolled on their permanent or temporary addresses. No one appeared on behalf of election commission.CJP said it seemed as if election commission was still celebrating Eid .The court also ordered to club the petition regarding right of vote to overseas Pakistanis with Imran Khan petition.The hearing of the case was put off till November, 7.
