The three individuals, who registered their votes online before the expiry of the deadline, were among the 4,677 voters belonging to the mentioned constituency residing in more than 10 different countries. The registration process lasted for 15 days – from 12th November 2018 to 27th November 2018. This was the second time i-voting took place.
Earlier in September 2018, only 7,419 Pakistanis living abroad had registered themselves with the ECP to vote in the by-elections for 37 constituencies of national and provincial assemblies held on October 14.
The i-Voting system first determined the eligibility of the voter and asked to enter:-
– 13-digit Unique National Identity Card Number printed on NICOP Card
– The Issuance Date of the NICOP Card
– Machine Readable Passport Number
– And the Tracking ID Number printed on Machine Readable Passport
Out of 650,000 overseas Pakistani voters in 2018, only 6500 Pakistanis cast their votes – whereas the rest of the voters didn’t even vote. More importantly, why they should get the online voting right whereas people residing in Pakistan should not.
It does raise concerns because some know the ground realities of the nation and some don’t. Some lived most of their lives in Pakistan while some didn’t at all. However, unlike other diasporas, OSPs are major contributors to the economy and do have immense connections with their countries usually. Even if the politics of Pakistan don’t affect them, they certainly have an effect on Pakistan. Take it as you will.
If at all in bombshell news, no Pakistani can keep two Pakistani passports. Not all overseas Pakistanis are the same. Only oversee Pakistanis that carry valid Pakistani passports should be allowed to vote. This allows you to exclude the diaspora that lives in the west and is disconnected from Pakistan. It allows you to include the diaspora in the Middle East and that very much is affected by Pakistan and Pakistan’s policies and will die in Pakistan.
Postal Ballot is currently allowed only for Government Employees and Jail interns. Pakistanis when come here to vote then they bring in their own mineral water bottles. A cost-effective way is to come to Pakistan at least 3 months earlier and observe local candidates and then vote. There already is a vote right for Pakistanis they can exercise by flying in so plan your holiday accordingly in the upcoming General Elections. Dear PIA, please be sure to make extra flights available at the time of the elections as we OSP are coming to vote.
