ISLAMABAD
Supreme Court (SC) has observed the polling procedure has been made complicated for barring the overseas Pakistanis from voting. The case for granting the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis came up for hearing before a three members bench of SC presided over by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan Wednesday.
The court issued notice to election commission on the petitions of Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid. Notice was issued on the appeal plea filed by advocate Dawood Ghaznvi against amendment in election act. Notices were issued to Attorney General (AG) and NADRA for assisting the court.
Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan inquired overseas Pakistanis will have to come to Pakistan for casting votes or can they cast vote by staying abroad. Obviously the voting procedure has been made so complicated that overseas Pakistanis could not cast vote. The right to vote has not been abolished and problem is only procedure of casting vote.
The counsel for petitioner took the plea SC had given right to vote to overseas Pakistanis in its decision. Amendment in election act runs contrary to the spirit of court decision. NADRA evolved system under the order of court and experience was made during by polls. No objection came to fore during by polls. It was asked to do pilot project again so that legislation could be enacted.
The court remarked NADRA and Election commission should assist it that if the system which has been evolved is upto the standard or otherwise.
The hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.
