Pakistan

CJP questions why overseas Pakistanis are discriminated

Asks why overseas Pakistanis have not yet been given voting rights

Hasnaat Mailk January 10, 2018

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has expressed wonder on why law giving voting rights to overseas Pakistanis has not yet been passed by the parliament.

He also questioned why overseas Pakistanis are being discriminated and expressed amazement over parliament's refusal to give them the right to vote.

PTI moves SC for granting right of franchise to overseas Pakistanis

Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana told the three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has conveyed, "giving right of vote to overseas Pakistanis is not possible."

The bench adjourned the hearing till next week.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court to grant millions of overseas Pakistanis settled in 159 countries across the globe the right to vote.

PTI chief Imran Khan, Dr Arif Alvi, Sardar Azhar Tariq and Ruxana Bhatti jointly moved an application requesting the apex court to declare that the “overseas Pakistanis are citizens of Pakistan and it is their fundamental right to utilise their right of franchise whether in Pakistan or abroad”.

PML-N appears dejected after NA-4 defeat

The PTI pleaded the court to direct the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to allow them to cast their precious votes in the general elections.

The application has been moved by renowned lawyers Anwar Mansoor Khan and Chaudhry Faisal Hussain.

COMMENTS (2)

Shakil | 6 years ago | Reply ECP on what grounds say its not possible? only because they think overseas Pakistanis are more aware and will vote other than PMLN? is that the ground you stopping legitimate citizens of their rights?

ishrat salim | 6 years ago | Reply Except PTI, all other political knows that PTI will get the maximum vote if voting rights given to PTI. The govt & State are aware of the precious foreign remittances are sent by them & depriving them the right to vote is akin to calling them non-Pakistani at the same time ? what an irony ? Even a relatively small country like Philippines, overseas Filipinos vote. Indians vote, so, why are overseas Pakistanis are deprived of this right ? CJP has taken a timely notice.

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