Resuming the hearing of a matter relating to voting right of overseas Pakistanis in next coming general election, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed whether or not the people like Hussain Haqqani should be given the right of vote.
Haqqani, a former ambassador to the USA left Pakistan after the apex court allowed him to travel abroad on January 30, 2012 only after he committed to the apex court that he would return whenever the court required.
Describing about Haqqani, Chief Justice of Pakistan sought files of the memogate scandal from the apex court's registrar as the case is connected with Haqqani who had fled into exile after a series of damaging revelations relating to a 'memorandum' he had given to the US officials. Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed why the apex court should not summon Haqqani to face the court in the matter. Responding to a query of the CJP, Nadra chairman Usman Yousaf Mobin submitted that the Authority has taken drastic measures, saying if three months are granted then Nadra will develop the software. During the further proceedings, he said they would conduct mock exercise and the software would be developed in two months.
Yousaf said in April that the Election Commission of Pakistan called a meeting of all the stakeholders, adding working on developing software has been started but there are issues of secrecy and it should be user friendly.
The secretary ECP informed that the government is ready to pay the cost of the software and placing system so that overseas Pakistan shall be able to cast vote in the election, showing commitment that voting right of overseas Pakistan is not compromised.
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Arif Alvi where his party was when Election Act was passed, saying the PTI has chunk of overseas Pakistanis and, therefore, it should have made efforts for their votes.
Alvi submitted that he had raised the issue of right of votes for overseas Pakistanis before the National Assembly sub-committee. It was decided that voting right will be given to expatriates. The hearing of the matter was adjourned for a month.