ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended the date from Sept 15 to Sept 17 for overseas Pakistanis to register and be able to vote in upcoming by-elections.

According to an official of the ECP, overseas Pakistanis have been asked to register themselves as voters by the due date so that they can exercise their democratic right to vote in the by-polls for 37 constituencies on Oct 14.

The official said that all registered overseas voters would be able to use the i-voting system. He said that a letter had been written to the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to direct Pakistani missions abroad to educate overseas Pakistanis on the registration process and extend to them all possible assistance to participate in the by-polls.

He further elaborated that the ECP would prescribe a specific time window for overseas citizens to use the i-voting system. All eligible voters will cast their votes between 8am and 6pm — Pakistan Standard Time — on polling day.

The official said that overseas Pakistanis must have machine readable passports, national identity cards for overseas Pakistanis and valid email IDs in order to register themselves as voters. The ECP will use a special software, which will allow overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes by using their email. He said that the ECP had in partnership with the National Database and Registration Authority launched a website designed to help and inform overseas Pakistanis who wished to vote in the by-elections.

The i-voting system, he said, was a pilot project and after its first use on Oct 14, the commission would submit a report to parliament, which might then proceed to enact further legislation if necessary. The official said that the ECP was expecting overseas Pakistanis to take advantage of the new facility, and that their cooperation was important in the success of the programme.

He said that the facility would allow millions of Pakistani citizens living abroad to become part of the democratic process in the country, but the most important aspect, he claimed, was that the system came through without any problems so that it could be ensured that the security around it was foolproof.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2018

Opinion

From hard to harder

From hard to harder

Instead of ‘hard state’ turning even harder, citizens deserve a state that goes soft on them in delivering democratic and development aspirations.

Editorial

Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...
Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.