ISLAMABAD – In a new development in the case of voting for the overseasPakistanis the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued freshinstructions to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
ECP has asked NADRA to register overseas Pakistanis as voters for upcomingby-elections set to be held in October.
Babar Yaqoob, secretary of ECP, issued the directives while chairing ameeting of NADRA and ECP officials in order to enable the overseas citizensto use their right to vote through the internet.
The NADRA has been asked to complete the registration process by September15, while a demonstration pertaining to i-voting will also be proved by theofficials to train the overseas Pakistanis.
In the by-polls, only those Pakistanis who have machine-readable passportand a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop) will beeligible for using their right to vote.
The electoral body said that the Foreign Office and NADRA will runawareness campaigns with the help of embassies to motivate the overseascitizens to take part in elections.
On Aug 17, the Supreme Court allowed on Friday overseas Pakistanis for thefirst time to use their right to vote in coming by-elections, fulfillingthe key demand of the expats.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisarissued the ruling while hearing a set of petitions filed by PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and some overseas Pakistanis.
The petitioners had pleaded that the denial of the right to participate inthe democratic process by the overseas Pakistanis would mean refusal by thegovernment to carry out its constitutional obligation.
The chief justice has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to makearrangements with the association of the NADRA to facilitate the overseascitizens to cast their vote through the internet.
“Many congratulations to overseas Pakistanis today,” said CJP Nisar, sayingthat it would be the first time expat citizens will be casting their votesin local election.
By-elections on 11 general seats of the National Assembly, out of whichnine have been vacated by those who won more than 1 seats, will be heldwithin the next two months.