ECP should facilitate overseas voting, directs SC

The Supreme Court of Pakistan disposes of two petition seeking right of franchise for overseas Pakistanis.

ISLAMABAD: The possibility of overseas voting for Pakistani expatriates looks grim as the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday disposed of two petitions seeking right of franchise for Pakistanis living abroad and observed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should make all efforts to facilitate overseas voting on May 11, without any specific directions. 

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, restrained from issuing any clear directive to the ECP or to the interim federal government in its short order.

Attorney General for Pakistan Irfan Qadir informed the bench that he held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and all ECP members. He stated that the ECP unanimously agreed to accomplish the desired task and requested the federal government to draft the required legislation for overseas voting which can be made applicable after the upcoming general elections.

Other departments including NADRA, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance all ensured the SC bench that they were poised to accommodate the expatriates, if they are directed to do so by the federal government and the ECP.

The ECP earlier stated they would not be able to facilitate overseas voting for the 2013 elections citing technical issues, legal bottle-necks, dearth of finances and shortage of time.

The federal government though maintained that the SC could not tread upon the jurisdiction of the independently mandated ECP, and that any legislation that may be required could only be drafted by the legislature and not the apex court.