SC arranges presentation for parliamentarians on votes for overseas Pakistanis

Top court enlisted names of officials that must be present during the presentation

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has mapped out arrangements for a comprehensive presentation for parliamentarians to ensure the rights of votes for overseas Pakistanis in the upcoming general elections.

The presentation is scheduled for April 12 wherein National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officials will be giving briefing over the new software.

A three-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, including Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan hearing the case issued a written order wherein it is stated that pursuant to the court's order dated March 3, 2018, NADRA has given a presentation to the court over the arrangements.

"We find it expedient that such presentation be shared with representatives of the people of Pakistan; therefore, we direct that the said presentation must be given on April 12 at 3:30 pm. in the auditorium of this court," the order read.



Top court enlisted the names of officials that must be present during the presentation. The list includes two representatives of all the 18 political parties represented in the Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies. Six members each from the National Assembly and the Senate, to be nominated by the speaker/chairman Senate, equally from treasury and the opposition benches, secretaries of the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Chief Election Commissioner and the Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were mentioned to partake in the presentation as well.

For third-party evaluation, IT experts from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Institute of Business Administration Karachi (IBA) and all Provincial Information Technology Boards and any other expert or officer as the ECP may deem appropriate are welcome to join in.

Personnel of print and electronic media are also asked to cover the session. Advocate Supreme Court Bilal Hassan Minto is also expected to join the presentation.