No voting rights for 4m overseas Pakistanis in upcoming elections: ECP

Says matter of expatr­iate voting rights delaye­d due to lack of time, not dismis­sed.


Web Desk September 26, 2012

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided against providing voting facilities to overseas Pakistanis for the upcoming general elections, Express News reported on Wednesday.

Earlier, the ECP was considering giving voting rights to more than 4 million Pakistanis who are settled in different countries around the world.

The reason for this decision, according to ECP, was that making arrangements for providing voting facilities to so many people abroad would be an impossible task in such a short time as general elections were not far away.

The commission, however, said that these expatriates could come to Pakistan and vote instead.

The issue has not been dismissed but postponed as the upcoming elections have many matters that need to be attended to in a short period of time.

During the meeting, five new political parties were allowed registration today, with the Pakistan Muslim League – Likeminded being recognized as a separate political party.

Also, a bill was agreed upon today by the commission which states that results will be withheld and polling will be held again in any constituency where there are less than 10 percent votes of women.

Earlier, State Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Nadeem Ehsan said that voting rights to overseas Pakistanis would be granted soon.

COMMENTS (14)

Imran Azim Butt | 11 years ago | Reply

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee .... when 180 million people who vote in Pakistan do not make a difference then why worry about the four million outside .....

Zainab Ahmed | 11 years ago | Reply

This is UNACCEPTABLE. We cannot lay low and be trampled on this way. "The reason for this decision, according to ECP, was that making arrangements for providing voting facilities to so many people abroad would be an impossible task in such a short time as general elections were not far away." The ECP had five years to plan and organize this. They can do it manually at the embassies. Its not like all 4 million are in one city! Many NRPs would happily volunteer to at the embassies to help manage the process. You cannot simply label something as impossible without even trying! At least do it in some of the cities where there are large numbers of Pakistanis!

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