Embassies can be used for oversees polling:SC
SC proposes Pakistan embassies can be given status of polling stations for oversees citizens.
ISLAMABAD (Online): Supreme Court has proposed that Pakistan embassies and consulates temporarily can be turned into polling stations for casting of their votes by overseas Pakistanis.
A three-member bench of SC led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chuahdry took up the petitions along with petition of PTI chairman Imran Khan in the case on right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis for hearing Thursday.
Hamid Khan appeared on behalf of Imran Khan in the court. Munir Paracha represented Election Commission of Pakistan.
CJP remarked casting vote was legal and constitutional right of every Pakistani. India and Bangladesh were providing this facility to their citizens. Attorney General (AG) is on board and he will solve the problem on this count.
CJP observed PTI chairman and Nasir Iqbal had filed petitions that EC should evolve a mechanism aimed at granting right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis in just manner. SC kept on issuing orders with the passage of time but no worth mentioning work had been done so far in this respect. Attorney General was issued notice to provide assistance to the court in this respect.
CJP said after hearing all the sides and parties we give this opinion that EC should ensure that all overseas Pakistanis have the right to be registered as voters under Electoral Act 1976.
They should be enrolled as voters as soon as possible. NADRA and Ministry of overseas Pakistanis should extend cooperation to EC on this regard and overseas Pakistanis be registered as voters.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till February, 22.
