News
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
SC leaves issue of voting rights to overseas for ECP to resolve* Court order says ECP should make all efforts for giving voting facility to expats in election under Article 17 of constitution
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and federal government’s refusal to make arrangements for overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right of vote in the upcoming elections, the Supreme Court has disposed of the case, with an observation that the ECP should make all possible efforts to allow the Pakistani expatriates to vote in forthcoming general elections under Article 17 of the constitution.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Monday announced a short order reasons of which would be recorded later on. It must be noted that Chaudhry Nasir Iqbal had filed a petition on this matter two years ago. During the hearing, Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir, while submitting a statement, told the bench that he had held a meeting with the chief election commissioner and all the ECP members.
“The ECP has appreciated the role of the Supreme Court of Pakistan keeping in view the utmost concern, desire and expectation which the apex court has with the former qua enabling the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes outside their constituency and country. On this premise the voters residing within their country but residing outside their constituency or province deserve at the least a similar treatment. Surely all this possible depending on finances and time frame,” the AGP further submitted
He also told the bench that during the meeting, the ECP unanimously agreed to accomplish the desired task while requesting the government to prepare requisite proposals for effecting the required legislation which may be made applicable to the overseas Pakistanis after the forthcoming general elections in the country. Qadir also stated, “The ECP had also expressed its satisfaction with regard to the efforts made so far by various departments of the federal government in carrying out the necessary steps in extending cooperation to achieve the desired results in the shortest possible time.”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk