Voting rights to expats: IHC seeks reply on ordinance

ISLAMABAD: On a plea challenging the presidential ordinance that allows voting rights overseas Pakistanis and use of electronic voting machines, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday sought response from the federal government, the Election Commission of Pakistan and the law ministry.

Justice Amir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court heard the petition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) MNA Shahnawaz Ranjha against allowing voting rights to overseas Pakistanis and use of EVMs through a presidential ordinance. The court decided to club all the petitions challenging the presidential ordinances and forwarded the request to IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah to form a division bench.

Ranjha in his plea has pleaded with the court to declare the ordinance allowing voting rights to overseas Pakistanis null and void, stating that the government has become habitual of issuing presidential ordinances. On May 8, President Dr Arif Alvi had promulgated the Election (second amendment) Ordinance 2021, allowing voting rights to overseas Pakistanis. According to the ordinance, changes were made to Section 94 (1) and Section 103 of the Election Act 2017.

The federal cabinet on May 4 approved two ordinances regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voting rights for overseas Pakistanis.