KARACHI: The general elections on May 11 has got every Pakistani excited. But the 4.5 million voters who live outside the country and make a significant contribution to the economy continue to wonder anxiously whether they would get to exercise their constitutional right or not.
With only days to go before the polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which has dragged its feet on the matter for two years, is about to abort the e-voting option.
The belaboured process added to the confusion of Pakistanis living abroad, some of whom do not even know where they would be casting their votes if a system is miraculously set up at the last minute. “I really wanted to vote, so did my husband, and we were hoping something could be arranged in the embassy. But, unfortunately, I do not think that will be possible,”UAE-based Beenum Mansoor said.
Many said they did not know where they had to go in their current country of residence to vote.
Others said that they were relying on the Pakistani news media for information about progress the ECP has made in ensuring voting for those living overseas.
Amber in Toronto, when asked if she had contacted anyone at the Pakistani mission there, said she had, and described the response only as ‘lost’. Tariq Qureshi in Las Vegas was critical of the attitude of personnel at the mission he contacted.
This is not the only problem for some overseas Pakistanis. While those living in cities with either consulates or embassies said that it would take them up to 30 minutes to drive to the polling stations, others said they may have to fly out to the nearest consulate to be able to vote.
Sagheer Ahmad in Australia said “It’s a two hours flight to Canberra from the Gold Coast, costing at least $500.”
Missions abroad still await a final verdict on the issue, and are concerned about when the systems will be put in place and their staff trained for the polls.
Till Wednesday, none of the missions had received any instructions from Islamabad.
“It would be quite difficult to put in place the system developed by NADRA in the missions abroad well in time,” said Ghulam Haider, the press attaché at the Berlin embassy. Haider added that those NICOP holders registered with the ECP may be extended the postal ballot facility.
“If the system is put in place well in time, which is by the end of this month, the officials in the Embassy will be able to cope with the situation,” he said.
With the election fever gripping Pakistan, foreign missions based in Islamabad are taking a lot of interest. This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a caretaker government formed as per the constitution will be overseeing the elections and will transfer power to elected representatives.
While political officers of many countries are regularly hosting media personnel covering the elections to get updates, ambassadors of important countries are holding meetings with top government functionaries for the purpose.
On Wednesday, British High Commissioner Adam Thomson met caretaker Prime Minister retired Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso to discuss government’s plans for the coming elections.
US Ambassador Richard G Olson called on the prime minister to discuss with him issues related to elections.
Sources in the Prime Minister House said that diplomats were keen to know about the state of security in the country during the run-up to elections as incidence of violence, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, increased.
They said that both Thomson and Olson inquired about the security arrangements put in place by the interim government.
A senior official in the PM secretariat said that international forces were genuinely concerned over attacks on politicians which might cast serious doubts over the validity of elections.
“Yes, the major challenge for the government is to ensure free and fair elections under peaceful circumstances which is definitely giving sleepless nights to caretakers,” the official said.
During both the meetings, the prime minister reiterated his government’s resolve to hold free, fair and transparent elections, and ensure trouble-free transfer of power to the elected representatives. Khoso briefed them on how the government was cooperating with the Election Commission of Pakistan in the conduct of elections.
According to a statement issued by the PM Secretariat yesterday, Olson commended efforts being taken by the caretaker government for holding free and fair elections. Khoso said the caretaker government would take all measures to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
Internews
