Overseas Pakistanis' inclusion in coming polls difficult: AG

Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir Monday said inclusion of overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right to vote in the forthcoming elections was very complex and termed it an uphill task.

He expressed these views before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed during the hearing of Imran Khan's petition regarding the Electoral Reforms.During the course of proceeding,the AG apprised the bench regarding his meeting with the officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other stakeholders.

"Amendment in the rules was discussed during the meeting and it will surely be not an easy task before the coming elections," he regretted. He further stated that only in Saudi Arabia 1.5 million Pakistanis were residing, where 400 to 500 polling booths would be needed and at each polling booth at least four to five polling staff would be required.

He said this is the situation only in one country and the court can analyze the difficulties in materializing this thing in all other countries.

The Chief Justice remarked whether the option of E-balloting was discussed during the meeting. Upon which, the AG replied in negative and said the people living in one constituency would also demand for casting their vote in another constituency and the situation would get worst.

Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed said it is the constitutional right of every overseas Pakistani to exercise the right to vote and it is the duty of ECP to make sure their names in the electoral lists.

The CJ said that the court was fully aware of the fact that it was not an easy task, yet they should make a practical approach and try their level best while leaving no stone unturned to give the overseas to exercise this right.

He also suggested the AG that he could hold meeting with the Law Minister and representatives of ECP in order to find out some easy way.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry also stated that they might hold a debate in the parliament on the issue and there was a hope that some way might come out of that debate. Later, the bench while admiring the sincere efforts by the AG and ECP adjourned the hearing till March 12.