The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered devising a joint foolproof mechanism for granting right to vote to overseas Pakistanis by April 1 and warned officers of being sent packing if the order was not implemented.
The order was issued by a special bench of SC headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during the hearing of the case on Friday.
The court was told that the IT secretary was not present in the special meeting held under Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir, therefore, a final shape could not be given to arrangements.
The court warned of stern reaction over it and remarked, “Internal conflict in various ministries, particularly the IT Ministry is beyond comprehension.”
During the course of hearing Afnan Karim Kundi said, “We can develop and provide software within three days if we are allowed.”
The CJP directed the NDRA chairman to extend help in working out mechanism. “Better soft ware can be developed by the GHQ by asking the Ministry of Defence.”
CJP remarked, “We will not leave alone those who are providing assistance to put the country on the way to progress. Extending the facility of casting vote to overseas Pakistanis is also their right and it is also responsibility of all other national institutions, including the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as well. We want them to also cast votes in the upcoming election. Set up polling stations in embassies and whosoever wills would come and cast his or her vote.”
The court ordered that a strategy to cast votes in top ten countries should be devised. “Polling stations be established in embassies. Law ministry, Ministry of IT, ECP and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis should jointly work out the methodology,” the court said.
The hearing of the case was adjourned until April 1.