ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs held an in-depth discussion on granting overseas Pakistanis, including those with dual nationality, the right to vote in future elections.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Dr Mohammad Humayun Mohmand.
Highlighting the importance of extending voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, the President said many countries are successfully implementing postal voting and wondered why Pakistan could not adopt a similar mechanism .
A representative of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) briefed the commission on past efforts, explaining that an independent audit had previously advised against internet voting due to significant security concerns, including the risk of hacking.
The audit concluded that online voting was not secure for the general election.
The president stressed that all Pakistanis living abroad or holding dual nationality should have the right to vote, suggesting that postal voting could be a viable solution for Pakistan.
Although ECP officials acknowledged the convenience and cost-effectiveness of postal voting, they cautioned that it could be prone to malpractices due to the lack of direct supervision.
The chairperson asked whether the committee would support amending laws and the Constitution to facilitate voting systems such as postal voting and EVMs. However, Senator Kamran Murtaza expressed reservations, saying such measures may not be in line with constitutional provisions.
Faced with limited support for the constitutional and legal amendments, the chair adjourned the meeting, saying: “If committee members are not willing to consider changes to enable a transparent and modern voting system, it serves no purpose.” nothing to continue the discussion. ยป