On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court ruled that all petitions contesting the change in foreign voting procedures should be combined.
It was alleged in court by Muhammad Iqbal that the government’s recent amendment to the statute was illegal by Chief Justice Athar Minallah.
In the opinion of Justice Athar Minallah, the modification does not disenfranchise Pakistanis who reside outside of Pakistan. Inquiringly, he said, “If the nine million Pakistani residents living abroad would vote in a single district.”
In order for Pakistanis living abroad to vote, it is a difficult matter.” The chief judge of IHC commented that “everyone submits a petition to the court but no one understands the law.”
13 states in the United States prohibit voting rights to their abroad residents, Justice Minallah said during the hearing. “It is the responsibility of the institutions to choose the voting mechanism,” he said.
In the meanwhile, the case was deferred until June 3rd (tomorrow).
