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Published 08 Apr, 2013 01:30pm

ECP opposes hurried evolution of voting system for overseas Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has opposed hurried evolution of a mechanism to enable overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right to vote.

In a report made public on Monday, the ECP said that without a proper mechanism in place, enabling non-resident Pakistanis to vote in the coming general election would compromise the transparency of the election process.

The election commission's report said legislation was required on the matter, along with the setting-up of a proper mechanism.

It added that a hurried decision over the matter may compromise the transparency of the polls and may in fact prove to be "disastrous".

Senior ECP and Nadra officials had previously said a decision in haste on the evolution of a mechanism would open room for manipulation of results in many constituencies.

The report comes in the wake of a directive from the Supreme Court for the secretaries of law and justice, information technology, foreign affairs, ministry of oversees Pakistanis and the ECP as well as the chairman of Nadra to make coordinated efforts for devising a mechanism which would enable oversees Pakistanis to cast their votes in the coming general election.

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