Voting from far away
Given desire of Pakistanis living overseas to vote, we must hope ECP, NADRA, govt can make this possible.
The DG ECP said the chief election commissioner CEC and other members of the commission had decided not to put in practice the e-voting mechanism for the 4.5 million oversees Pakistanis. DESIGN: EMA ANIS
Enthusiasm for balloting may be suffering at home due to the spate of violence that we have seen — with fears this may lead to a low voter turnout. But many of the nearly five million Pakistanis based overseas and eligible to vote seem determined to do so. Notably from the UK, supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are planning to charter flights home for election day, if this is what it takes to put that slip of paper into the box. They have made it clear that supporters of other parties are welcome to come along too and hop aboard the flights.
But, of course, all this is expensive and not possible for everyone. We must, therefore, hope plans to organise balloting at missions overseas, as the Supreme Court has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to do, can move ahead smoothly. Encouragingly for Pakistan, eight key countries have already given the go-ahead for Pakistanis based there to ballot. According to the Foreign Office spokesman at his weekly briefing, they include the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. The largest number of Pakistani nationals, over three million in total, are based in the Middle East. It is hoped that other countries will follow in approving the move. NADRA has stated that it has worked out a software programme to enable voting and arrangements to send across required staff are being made.
However, there are complications. The caretaker government’s information and technology minister has told the Supreme Court that using untested software could be problematic. Other logistical issues have also been raised. These are legitimate concerns. Overseas ballots have led to problematic situations in other countries, too. However, given the obvious desire of Pakistanis living overseas to make their voices heard as the future of their nation is decided, we must hope that the ECP, NADRA and the government can work together to make this possible. While the time period is short, in this age of technology, it should be possible to work out a means to enable those based far away to have a say in the elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.
But, of course, all this is expensive and not possible for everyone. We must, therefore, hope plans to organise balloting at missions overseas, as the Supreme Court has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to do, can move ahead smoothly. Encouragingly for Pakistan, eight key countries have already given the go-ahead for Pakistanis based there to ballot. According to the Foreign Office spokesman at his weekly briefing, they include the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. The largest number of Pakistani nationals, over three million in total, are based in the Middle East. It is hoped that other countries will follow in approving the move. NADRA has stated that it has worked out a software programme to enable voting and arrangements to send across required staff are being made.
However, there are complications. The caretaker government’s information and technology minister has told the Supreme Court that using untested software could be problematic. Other logistical issues have also been raised. These are legitimate concerns. Overseas ballots have led to problematic situations in other countries, too. However, given the obvious desire of Pakistanis living overseas to make their voices heard as the future of their nation is decided, we must hope that the ECP, NADRA and the government can work together to make this possible. While the time period is short, in this age of technology, it should be possible to work out a means to enable those based far away to have a say in the elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.