Opposition demands right of vote for expats

Mian Mehmoodur Rashid says govt does not seem serious in this regard

LAHORE: Opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rashid demanded of the government to take sincere steps in giving the right of vote Pakistanis living abroad.

The demand was made through a resolution he submitted in the Punjab Assembly. He implored in his resolution that the government should take appropriate measures and ensure that the right of vote was given to the expatriates before the general elections.  “All the political parties, ruling class and Supreme Court of Pakistan are agreed on giving the right of vote to the Pakistani nationals living abroad.

He complained that the Election Commission of Pakistan and NADRA did not seem serious on this matter which tantamount to depriving them of their basic right although they were the real asset of the country. “Expats are disappointed over not being given the right of vote which is regrettable,” he remarked.

Talking to The Express Tribune Mehmoodur Rashid said the government deliberately does not want to give them the right of vote to overseas Pakistani as it (the government) believed the 90% of the expat voters were PTI’s fans.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2018.