ECP grants overseas Pakistanis right to vote
The decision will allow 3.7 million Pakistanis living abroad to vote.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to grant voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, Express News reported on Tuesday.
The decision will allow 3.7 million Pakistanis living abroad to vote.
The debate on whether overseas Pakistanis should be allowed to participate in Pakistan’s elections gained steam after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan moved the Supreme Court, seeking that those living abroad should be permitted to vote.
In a meeting of the commission on Tuesday, which was chaired by ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan, participants decided that names of overseas Pakistanis will be registered in the electoral rolls, DawnNews reported. Participants also discussed the mechanism for voting, including the option of postal balloting and setting up polling booths at Pakistani embassies. A voting mechanism has yet to be decided.
The decision will allow 3.7 million Pakistanis living abroad to vote.
The debate on whether overseas Pakistanis should be allowed to participate in Pakistan’s elections gained steam after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan moved the Supreme Court, seeking that those living abroad should be permitted to vote.
In a meeting of the commission on Tuesday, which was chaired by ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan, participants decided that names of overseas Pakistanis will be registered in the electoral rolls, DawnNews reported. Participants also discussed the mechanism for voting, including the option of postal balloting and setting up polling booths at Pakistani embassies. A voting mechanism has yet to be decided.