Electoral reforms: SC says govt to decide issue of overseas vote

Asks political parties to suggest how to curtail poll expenditure.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to let the government handle the issue of overseas Pakistanis having the right to vote.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry conducted the hearing of a petition filed by PTI chief Imran Khan. It was observed in the proceedings that it was the prerogative of the state’s chief executive, the prime minister, to decide the issue as deemed fit.

The bench observed that the government had, in principle, accepted the right of overseas Pakistanis to vote, and was now working to chalk out a plan for its execution.

“We consider the issue to be a purely executive matter and will follow the government’s decision,” the court said.

“There is a fear of the overseas Pakistanis vote casting system being rigged,” the chief justice told PTI lawyer Hamid Khan. “Therefore, we cannot press the government to make such arrangements under pressure because it is in the executive’s domain to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.”

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain asked Hamid Khan to assist the government and the court as he was familiar with the process, which was being initiated upon his request.

In the last hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court that the government is fully convinced of the idea to let them vote, but there were some logistical problems regarding the arrangement of polling stations that need to be taken care of.

Electoral reforms

The Supreme Court asked all political parties to come forward with suggestions to introduce electoral reforms by curtailing unnecessary expenses incurred during election campaigns.

The court acted in response to a petition filed by Workers Party Pakistan president Abid Hasan Minto. He requested the court to club his petition over land reforms with the electoral reforms case as according to him they were both related. However, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said “We will decide that later, after the hearing of this (electoral reforms case).”

Newly appointed Senator Farogh Nasim appeared on behalf of MQM. He was of the view that there is a need to examine international standards and sought some time to prepare his case. His request was accepted and the case adjourned till March 27. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s lawyer Hamid Khan also said his party wants to make some suggestions regarding the reforms.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2012.