Overseas Pakistanis to get vote right

The Election Commission has decided to give right of vote to overseas Pakistani and the decision will be implemented through the Presidential Ordinance, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan said on Thursday.

The decision was taken at a meeting held in Islamabad today with Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim in the chair.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting‚ Khan said the commission has finalized the draft for the ordinance‚ which will be sent to Law Ministry in two days.

He said that President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his reservations to Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim about the security of leadership of political parties and the candidates.

The President has asked CEC to personally play his role in ensuring the security of political leadership and candidates contesting the elections.

Ishtiaq Ahmad said the Commission has asked the provincial governments to ensure foolproof security of political parties and political their leadership contesting the election.

He said the commission will meet on 25th of this month to finalize the security plan of the polling stations. Representatives of he federal and the provincial governments‚ and officials of Interior Ministry and Law Ministry will also attend the meeting.

Regarding polling turn out in the upcoming elections‚ he said that election commission has predicted it in its strategic plan at 63 percent. However‚ the 44 million youth voters and awareness created by the media about the value of vote are important factors‚ which will boost the turn out.

He said the process of printing of ballot papers will begin tomorrow and will be completed in a week’s time.

Regarding polling stations for internally displaced persons‚ Ishtiaq Ahmad said that with the consultation of FATA administration‚ polling stations will be established on the pattern of 2008 elections.

Talking about the Bugti tribesmen‚ he said as per the record provided by NADRA‚ 60 thousand Bugtis are dwelling in their area‚ only 9 thousands are living outside.

In reply to a question‚ he said ECP is an autonomous institution and its powers are also derived from constitution.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Apr 18 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.