Pak expats use their voting rights online

dubai — In a matter of three clicks, Pakistani expats in the UAE, for the first time, exercised their right to vote in their country’s 2018 by-elections. The voting time was between 8am and 5pm PST (Pakistan Standard Time) on Sunday.

The Pakistan government’s iVoting system went live three months ago, allowing Pakistanis overseas to register and vote for 11 National Assembly constituencies and 26 Provincial Assemblies.

Majority of those who voted said the system was smooth, and they faced no glitches.

Dubai resident Faisal Khan said it was great to be able to vote. “I voted online for my constituency and it felt great to be an integral part of my country today,” he said.

He also said the system was superb. “Once I logged in, I went straight to my registered constituency and pressed ‘vote’. In a matter of minutes, my vote was cast.”

Sadaqat Hussain, who has been in the UAE for three years and lives in Ras Al Khaimah, said he did not face any problems in casting his vote. “I had registered last month and I was sent an e-mail,” he told Khaleej

Times. “Within minutes, I had voted. I am thankful to the government for giving us expatriates the chance to be part of this important event,” he said.

Not all expats voted since all constituencies were not open for voting. Disappointing figures from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) showed that only 7,000 expatriates registered for the online system.In the UAE, majority of the 1.3 million Pakistanis are blue-collar workers without access to e-mails and the Internet.

7,000 Expatriates registered for the online voting system worldwide

I hope the system works fine and can be used perfectly in the next general elections.”

Sohail Qureshi, Dubai resident

I am thankful to the government for giving us expatriates the chance to be part of this important event.”

Sadaqat Hussain, RAK resident

A spokesperson for the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi said general awareness messages were posted on the embassy and consulate websites as well as all on social media channels. “Everyone was able to vote after registration,” said the spokesperson. It was the first online voting option ever given to Pakistanis, and, despite criticism of the pilot project, the ECP said the system was foolproof.

Sohail Qureshi, a Dubai resident, said though he could not travel for the elections that were held in July, he voted on Sunday. “I was disappointed that I could not vote, but am very happy that I was able to vote today (Sunday).”