Hearing the case regarding the voting right of overseas Pakistanis, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday ordered the interim government to make legislation through ordinance as per the needs of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A three-member bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry, heard the case.
During the proceedings, the ECP presented a report stating that it was not possible to provide voting right to overseas Pakistanis during the upcoming elections.
The counsel for ECP said that the commission had no issues if the government could make proper arrangements for the overseas Pakistanis.
Justice Chaudhry remarked that the court had suggested making arrangements for 10 polling stations only, adding that the ECP had taken no step in this regard.
The CJP also suggested that 10 sessions judges could also be sent abroad to conduct polling. The counsel told the court that legislation was required for giving voting right to overseas Pakistanis.
Issuing interim order, the court said that the caretaker government should legislate through ordinance according to the requirements of the ECP, adding that the Foreign Ministry could be contacted for the establishment of polling stations abroad. The court also directed to complete the arrangements before the upcoming elections.
