ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday signed the ‘Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance‚ 2013 granting the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis.
The ordinance provides that the Election Commission of Pakistan at least 14 days before the day fixed for poll abroad shall establish polling stations with as many polling booths as may be necessary in the premises of an Embassy‚ a Mission or a Consulate, spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said.
However, this would be subject to consent of the host countries for establishment of the polling stations.
The ordinance further says that an overseas Pakistani not later than ten days before the day fixed for poll abroad‚ register himself as an elector in the embassy‚ mission or consulate where he intends to cast his vote.
It says the Election Commission shall appoint as many independent monitors as necessary at a polling station abroad to ensure the conduct of free‚ fair and transparent poll.
The Spokesperson said that the Ordinance shall come into force at once but shall take effect on the date or dates to be notified by the Election Commission in the official gazette.
