A petition challenging the denial of voting rights to overseas Pakistanis has brought new attention to the issue, with the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking responses from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other parties involved.
The petition, filed by the International Lawyers Association, was heard by LHC Justice Shahid Karim. During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel noted that the ECP and other respondents had failed to submit their replies.
In response, the court issued notices to the federal government and other concerned parties, adjourning the hearing until the second week of February.
The petition stresses that around 10 million overseas Pakistanis live around the world and argues that denying them the right to vote violates their fundamental rights. The petitioner has urged the court to direct the government to introduce legislation ensuring voting rights for overseas Pakistanis.
