President signs law to enable overseas voting

The Electoral Laws Amendment Ordinance will enable the ECP to have polls abroad, at a later date.

ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistanis will now be able to cast their vote as President Asif Ali Zardari, on the advice of the Prime Minister, approved and signed the ‘Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, on Thursday, to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis to cast their vote from abroad.

The election date for those voting abroad will be different from the one in Pakistan.

According to the ordinance, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is ordered to establish polling stations inside the premises of the embassies, mission or consulate at least 14 days prior to the polling date, spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said while giving details of the ordinance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to obtain consent from the host countries before establishing polling stations.

Overseas Pakistanis will be asked to register as an elector in the embassy, mission or consulate where he intends to cast his vote, not later than ten days before the day fixed for poll abroad, the ordinance said.

To ensure free and fair polls, the ECP would appoint as many independent monitors as necessary at a polling station abroad, the ordinance further said.

The Spokesperson said that the Ordinance has come into force, but will take effect on the date or dates notified by the ECP in the official gazette.