ECP's reply sought on petition seeking lists of overseas voters
- By Web Desk -
- Oct 09, 2018
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit its response on a petition filed by PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique seeking lists of registered overseas Pakistani voters.
A bench of the high court directed the electoral body to come up with its response today.
Petitioner Khawaja Saad Rafique complained that he was not being provided details of the overseas Pakistanis who will vote in Oct 14 by-elections despite repeated requests.
He pleaded the court to direct the ECP to provide lists of overseas Pakistani voters registered with it.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has registered only 7,419 overseas Pakistani voters for giving them right to vote in by-polls in 37 constituencies on October 14.
According to an official of ECP, during registration process started from September 1, all overseas Pakistanis had been asked to register themselves as voters by due date.
He said the commission had also extended the date for registration of overseas Pakistanis from September 15 to September 17 for exercising their right of casting vote in by-elections.
He said all registered overseas Pakistani voters would have the right of casting vote in bye-election through I-Voting system.
He said a letter had been written to the Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct the Pakistani missions abroad to educate overseas Pakistanis regarding registration process and their right of vote in by-elections in their respective constituencies.
He said the ECP will deliver stipulated time voting passport to overseas Pakistanis to avail the opportunity of I-Voting for casting their vote in by-elections being held in 37 constituencies on October 14.
The official added the commission will generate voting passport system for registered overseas Pakistanis on October 14 and all eligible voters can cast their vote during Pakistan Standard Time from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on polling day.
He said all registered overseas Pakistani voters will have right of casting vote in by-elections through I-Voting system.