The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday held an important meeting with all stakeholders to review the issue of giving around 4.5 million National Identity Card of Overseas Pakistani (NICOP) holders the right to vote, but failed to evolve a final strategy.
The ECP secretary, NADRA chief, representatives from ministry of overseas Pakistanis, foreign office and the law minister held an important meeting at the ECP Secretariat. The participants of the meeting discussed the expected problems which would be faced by commission while giving voting right to overseas Pakistanis, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
During the meeting, it was pointed out that only a few days are left before general elections and making voting arrangements for those abroad would be difficult.
It was also discussed that during the short span of time, there will be numerous issues such as acquiring visas for election staff and getting permission from all concerned countries where Pakistanis are living. The meeting also discussed how the ECP can get permission from Gulf countries, where political activities are strictly banned. During the meeting, the NADRA chairman informed participants that NADRA had collected data on all NICOP holders.
Later, while talking to media personnel, caretaker Law Minister Ahmer Bilal Soofi said in the light of the SC order, the government will give voting right to overseas Pakistanis. He said another meeting involving all stakeholders would be held on Wednesday (today) to evolve a final strategy in this regard.