ISLAMABAD, April 29: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed the confidence that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would endeavour to grant Pakistanis living abroad the right to vote in the May 11 elections as envisaged in article 17 of the constitution.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry announced a short order, disposing of petitions filed by Chaudhry Nasir Iqbal and Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan after the ECP’s refusal to grant the voting right to overseas Pakistanis before the May 11 elections.

The order came after Attorney General Irfan Qadir submitted a statement. At the last hearing, the AG had assured the apex court that he would meet Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim to sort out the matter. His Monday’s statement contained the outcome of his meeting with the CEC and members of the commission.

The ECP, he said, had expressed satisfaction over the efforts made by different federal departments to achieve the desired results in the shortest possible time. Such efforts helped the ECP agree to the applicability of the legislative proposals needed to grant the right to vote to expatriate Pakistanis.

The ECP had also appreciated the court’s concern, desire and expectation with the commission to enable overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes outside the country, he said.

On this premise the voters living in the country but outside their constituency or province deserved a similar treatment, the AG said, and added that it was possible depending on finances and timeframe.

During the meeting, the AG said, the commission agreed to accomplish the desired task and request the government to prepare proposals for effecting the required legislation which may be implemented after the elections.