Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan Chief Justice (CJ)—Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry—remarked on Friday that no legislation was required for granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.
A three member bench of the apex court—headed by the CJ—resumed hearing of the petition regarding voting rights for overseas Pakistanis.
The bench was comprised on the CJ, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain.
During the hearing Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) counsel Muhammad Munir Piracha said that to enable the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes, legislation was required.
But Chaudhry said that laws were for their country. There was no need for legislation for arrangements in other countries.
The CJ asked Piracha that if vote could be casted through postal ballot within the country, then why would the rule not be applied for the overseas.
Justice Saeed remarked that overseas could cast their vote by writing name of the district on the ballot paper, which could be collected by concerned diplomatic missions abroad.
Justice Saeed further said that the government and political parties would have to play their role in determining the procedure as it was not sole responsibility of ECP.
The bench adjourned the hearing of the case till February 27.
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