LAHORE: A writ petition was filed in the Lahore High Court to declare that the overseas Pakistanis have a legal right to cast vote in the local government (LG) elections.

Nadeem Yousaf, a Pakistani living in the United States, filed the petition through advocate Azhar Siddique.

The petition contends that the LG polls in Punjab are going to be held in April 2023 by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the process has also been started. It says the provisions of Punjab Local Government Election Act are very important for the purpose of filing the instant petition.

The petition argues that there is no distinction between the citizens living within or outside Pakistan with regard to the grant, protection and exercise of their right to vote in terms of Article 17 and Article 4 of the Constitution.

The only difference is that the citizens living within the country have been provided the facilities to cast their vote in the elections, whereas citizens living abroad are yet to be extended such facilities, it adds.

It further argues that there is no bar on dual nationals to contest or vote in the LG elections. It says the dual national Pakistanis have the right to vote and at the same time they have the right to be elected.

The petition asks the court to declare that the right to vote of every citizen of Pakistan is fundamental and absolute in the upcoming elections of the LG in Punjab.

It further asks the court to declare that overseas Pakistanis have the right to cast vote in the electorate of the LGs.

It seeks a declaration that the ECP and the Nadra failed to discharge their mandate under the Constitution. It urges the court to order the federal and provincial governments in addition to the ECP and the Nadra to put meaningful efforts to ensure overseas Pakistanis participate in the upcoming LG polls with ease.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2022