KARACHI, Oct 8: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim has said any decision on the issue of dual nationality has to be taken in accordance with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s decision.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, disqualified on Sept 20 several parliamentarians holding dual nationalities. The court pointed out that under Article 63(1c) of the Constitution a lawmaker could not hold dual nationalities.

Talking to reporters at the Provincial Election Commission here on Monday, Justice Ebrahim said an important meeting would be held on Tuesday in Islamabad to consider implementation of the court’s decision and the response of the secretariats of the National Assembly and Senate to EC’s directive in this regard.

The CEC said the commission was bound to honour the court’s judgment.

Replying to a question, he said it was the responsibility of every citizen to exercise his right to vote to improve the system of governance.

The CEC said use of electronic voting machines in the coming elections did not appear feasible but transparent electoral rolls were ready and now members of the civil society, media and all other sections concerned ought to activate people and spread awareness about the importance of votes.

He said that in India electronic machines were not being used at more than 22 places. If a good, transparent software was available the commission could make necessary preparations but it would take time, he said.

He said more people could be induced to vote if the law and order situation was improved and possibility of rigging was eliminated.

Sindh Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch said 50 declarations had been received from legislators belonging to the province, affirming that they did not hold the nationality of any other country.

He said the number would have been higher if the Sindh Assembly had been in session and many members were supervising flood relief work in their constituencies.

He said no deputy commissioner was authorised to relocate polling stations. They had been asked to prepare lists of public buildings which could be used for facilitating the voter because a number of buildings had been damaged by floods and some new ones had been built in the vicinity. Decisions in this regard would be taken on the basis of reports of returning officers, he said.