ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistanis should be given the right to vote, said Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday.
During the hearing of a case related to bogus voter lists, the chief justice said non-resident Pakistanis are a vital source of foreign income.
Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that Pakistanis living abroad should be provided with postal ballot.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided against providing voting facilities to overseas Pakistanis for the upcoming general elections.
The commission was considering giving voting rights to more than 4 million Pakistanis who are settled in different countries around the world but decided not to.
The reason for this decision, according to ECP, was that making arrangements for providing voting facilities to so many people abroad would be an impossible task in such a short time as general elections were not far away.
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Overseas Pakistanis welcome this statement of honorable Chief Justice and all credit goes to MQM quid Altaf Hussain for unshaken stand on this issue.
Appreciate the step taken by the Chief Justice Of Pakistan and this is the only efforts of Mr.Altaf Hussain founder & leader Of MQM, Who is always with the rights of everyone. In surveillance of Mr.Altaf Hussain & the efforts shown by Dr.Farooq Sattar and Other MQM think tank made this possible to happen for Overseas Pakistani to vote otherwise ''en 65 years main enn k saro pr jun tk nahe rengte''
Here I must say Hates Of Muttahida Quami Movement & Our Beloved Quaid who raised their strong voice in favor of this serious issue.
Highly appreciable remarks from CJP.
Because of the efforts of MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain and Overseas Minister Farooq Sattar Overseas Pakistanis got the voting rights.
@Noman : So, MQM fulfilled its responsibility as like always. Did you want to say this?
I learned that in recent years its only MQM and its founder Mr. Altaf Hussain who is raising their voice on every forum for Overseas Pakistan, weather its Right to Vote, Dual nationals taking part in Elections or against unjustified taxation on calls. I must appreciate that MQM's is well aware of all problems being faced by Pakistanis (residential, non residential both) & they do not only point at the issues but also come up with the most appropriate solutions. THANKS MQM & THANKS Mr. ALTAF HUSSAIN
This is a good sign from Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry who said that Overseas Pkistanis Should be given the right of vote.We will not forget the efforts of Overseas Federal Minister Dr. Farooq Sattar who established this momentum on the direction of QET Altaf Hussain to put up the case in cabinet and the election commission.We further hope that dual nationality issue will also be solve through SC.
I like to thank, Mr. Altaf Hussain and also like to appreciate efforts of Dr. Farooq Sattar for bieng focus and consistent to the cause, we are living here but breathing there - we are earning here but investing there, we are working here but resting there. I also like to request chief justice of Pakistan to please take care of this case to ensure our participation. Thanks for realizing our contribution
Thats an excellent news And all creadit goes to MQM Altaf Hussain And Overseas Minester Dr Farooq Sattar Wel Done MQM Pakistan
According to me, if the person has still Pakistani Passport they deserve to get part in voting. These overseas Pakistani are the real ambassador of Pakistan. We are here promoting our culture, our language, our traditions, foods, clothing each and everything which is belong to Pakistan. I would like to appreciate the statement of MR. Altaf Hussain regarding this hot issue because he is the only who concern about it. Other politicians are still sleeping when they need money of their party fund they always look towards overseas Pakistani but now there are in deep sleep. Once again thank to Mr. Altaf Hussain .Love you Bhai :)
@Ammad Hafeez: Do some research before you give credit to someone. MQM holds the Ministry of Overseas affairs that is responsible for making arrange for Overseas PAkistani's votes.
We (overseas Pakistanis) represent the name of Pakistan, We are also Pakistanis & We must have right to vote, Thanx CJP as well as Muttahida Qoumi Movement's leadership for their concern over this issue.
We (Overseas Pakistanis) thank to CJP as well as MQM and specially Dr. Farooq Sattar for their concern on this issue.
I guess it is about time to fix the laws governing the Overseas Pakistanis and give them their rights. As per Nationality act of 1951-52 they can hold the Dual nationality. That means holding nationality of any other country (16 listed) will not revoke their Pakistani nationality. These are the people who are the only hope for Pakistan to bring out the softer image (NOT THE TALIBANIZED IMAGE) of Pakistan. They should have the right to vote and being member of the parliament and this should be clarified in the Constitution of Pakistan.
Crap. Meetha meetha hup hup, karwa karwa thoo thoo. Typical desi mentality. I agree with mirza's comments that either dual citizens are Pakistanis or they are not. Half Pakistani means we are just using them to our own benefits. Give them right to election as well. I hated MQM in the past, but this time they won my heart and my vote. Thx Mr. Altaf Hussain.
In my opinion, the only way Overseas Pakistanis shouldn't be allowed to vote is if they don't represent Pakistan in any way, which would make them a non-Pakistani. So every Pakistani regardless of where he/she lives should be allowed to vote.
@KHAN. Well said.
Imran Khan infact opposed this move buy MQM's leaders had consistently pushed for the basic rights if Overseas Pakistani's. Altaf Hussain had consistently paid importance to this fact; our OverSeas Minister Dr. Farooq Sattar worked day and night for this.
Inshallah there hard work will not be forgone.
Overseas Pakistani and Dual National should have the right to vote and contest in elections.
Thats like saying that anyone can decided what I will be eating for dinner in my own house.
All credit goes to Muttahida Qoumi Movement and Chief Mr. Altaf Hussain who raised his voice over this issue. CJP should give election rights to overseas Pakistanis.
No objection to voting right for expatriates but should not be allowed to contest elections for Pakistan's Parliamentary institutions.
This issue is not for the Chief Justice to comment on. He is really stepping out of his constitutional bounds, and trespassing on the jurisdiction of other government branches. The Supreme Court justices need to confine themselves to adjudicating disputes brought before them, and refrain from airing their personal views for public consumption.
We can not even control bogus votes with in the country let alone votes coming from overseas. With all the means U S A has they even do not allow Americans living abroad to vote other than their military personals.
This is really a great news. Hats off to MQM and Altaf Hussain bhai for keeping the momentum alive. Dr. Farooq Sattar gave this gift to this nation when he championed the cause before the cabinet and the election commission. Thanks to PTI for supporting the campaign. However, its only the beginning. Getting election rights for overseas Pakistanis will be the ultimate destination. Those who pay heavily to national exchequer, must be given a chance to oversee spending.
They send Money to their homes, to their parents and wives not in charity to Pak govt or Edhi. Please do not dramatize this notion.
Obv they want to concentrate the voters in thier fuedal fiefdoms in Pakistan.
Plz leave us alone from these Sharks.dont we we have enough problems when ever a pakistanti canidate contesting a local election in UK
Gul Khan UK
I agree with the principle of dual passports, but not dual voting rights. Pakistan voting rights should be renewed once a person returns from overseas and re-registers.
Overseas pakistanis should get voting rights in the coming elections. If they do not get voting rights government in power will enact rules against their interests eg. steep increase in long distance calls to their families in pakistan. This is highway robbery!
Double standard. We allow them to vote because we want their money but don't want them to check where money is spent.
Thats an excellent news for Pakistan and PTI.
They should get voting rights. That shouldn't be an issue, the issue is dual nationals shouldn't be occupying any place in Parliment or govt.