In a first, Pak OKs use of i-voting system for overseas nationals

Pakistan on Friday allowed the overseas Pakistanis to vote in elections in the country for the first time through i-voting system.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) okayed the use of i-voting system by overseas Pakistanis in the upcoming by-polls after the Supreme Court ruled that the system was ready for use.

In a landmark decision earlier this month, the Supreme Court had permitted Pakistanis residing abroad to cast their votes in the upcoming by-polls.

The ECP said that eligible overseas Pakistanis can participate in the upcoming by-elections which will be held on October 14.

The overseas Pakistanis will only be able to vote in the constituencies their vote is registered in. Only those overseas Pakistanis who are already registered voters will be able to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming by-polls.

They will have to register with the Pakistan’s Election Commission from September 1 to September 15 by using Internet which will help to get a special pin code to access i-voting facility on the election day.

There are more than 9.2 million Pakistanis living abroad and they all have been demanding the voting facility.

The ECP has announced by-election on 14 seats of national assembly and 26 seats of four provincial assemblies on October 14.