Presidential ordinance: Overseas Pakistanis to vote... just not this time

ECP says change in Electoral Laws cannot be implemented before May 11.

ISLAMABAD:

In a move that will help extend adult franchise to overseas Pakistanis, President Asif Zardari on Thursday signed the Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2013, facilitating overseas residents to cast their votes from abroad.

Unfortunately this comes too late for those overseas Pakistanis who looked forward to voting in this election since there is not enough time left to make the necessary arrangements.

With the apex court unremittingly pressing the ECP to arrange for overseas vote, the plans had long been under discussion.

However, the ECP had shown reluctance, stating that with the limited time available it would not be possible for the electoral body to ensure that satisfactory arrangements had been made for the elections.

Following Supreme Court’s directives the ECP drafted the text of an ordinance and sent it to the interim prime minister which was to be approved by the president. Since the national assembly was dissolved in March this year after completing its tenure, a presidential decree was the only way to amend the relevant law. However, under rules an ordinance expires after 120 days if not adopted by the parliament.

Giving details of the ordinance, spokesperson to the president Senator Farhatullah Babar said that under the amended bill, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have at least 14 days before elections to establish polling stations in an embassy, a mission or a consulate, provided that the ministry of foreign affairs has obtained prior consent of the host country.

Furthermore, overseas Pakistanis may register themselves at the embassy, mission or consulate where they intend to cast their vote, no later than ten days before polling day, added Babar. In addition, in an effort to ensure free, fair and transparent polling, the election commission will be able to appoint as many independent monitors as necessary at a polling station abroad, he said.

Babar clarified that while the ordinance has come into force immediately, it shall take effect on the date notified by the election commission in the official gazette. These amendments come after the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the ECP and the government to ensure voting rights for overseas Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, commenting on the development, ECP spokesperson Khursheed Alam said that although the ordinance has been issued by the president, there were no immediate chances of voting rights being extended to overseas residents for the elections scheduled on May 11.

“We have only one day left for the election and it is impossible to make all the arrangements needed to facilitate overseas voters to cast their ballots,” said Alam.

The ECP spokesperson maintained that the ordinance would be useful for future elections. According to the spokesperson, the ECP was in contact with the presidency in this regard. However, he said, it would have been much better if the ordinance was issued at appropriate time earlier so that the overseas voter would have been given the opportunity to use their right of vote.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.