5 September 2011, 9:40 PM Pakistanis in the UAE have not been asked until now to voice their opinion in the poll launched by the Pakistan government with regard to the overseas Pakistanis voting rights.
However, Pakistanis residing in the US and UK continue to fill in a questionnaire regarding their participation in the electoral process based on which the Pakistan government will assess the voting interests of their nationals abroad.
[h=3]The next general elections are scheduled for 2013 in Pakistan[/h]No comment on the matter was available from the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai on Monday.
However, sources said a letter had been sent by the Pakistan government to the embassy and consulate in this regard over a year ago but it had not been publicised.
Hence, majority of the residents in the UAE have not been able to voice their opinion.
Sources also said that the reason could be that countries in the Middle East do not allow political campaigning which gives a choice to voters to choose a particular constituency in their home towns. An estimated 5.5 million overseas Pakistanis in 105 countries have been, for years, demanding their right to vote. Previous governments have made only empty promises of allowing overseas Pakistanis to vote or to have representation in the national and provincial legislatures reportedly owing to a number of reasons including operational costs, ban of political activities in some countries and even having to make changes legal and constitutional amendments.
A posting on the Pakistan Consulate in New Yorks website reads, The Government of Pakistan is considering granting the right of vote as well as representation in National and Provincial Assemblies to Overseas Pakistanis.
An early response would enable the government in assessing the extent of interest among the Pakistani Diaspora in the electoral process and taking a final decision in this regard.
Pakistanis residing in the UAE reacting to the opinion polls said they, too would like to voice their opinion.
We make up a majority of overseas Pakistanis and we are ready to voice our opinion, so why have we not been asked? said Mohammed Ali, a resident of Sharjah.
I will get in touch with the Dubai consulate and give them the reference of the US and UK offices and ask them when we will be able to give our opinion, he added.
http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArti...tember/theuae_September104.xml§ion=theuae
However, Pakistanis residing in the US and UK continue to fill in a questionnaire regarding their participation in the electoral process based on which the Pakistan government will assess the voting interests of their nationals abroad.
[h=3]The next general elections are scheduled for 2013 in Pakistan[/h]No comment on the matter was available from the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai on Monday.
However, sources said a letter had been sent by the Pakistan government to the embassy and consulate in this regard over a year ago but it had not been publicised.
Hence, majority of the residents in the UAE have not been able to voice their opinion.
Sources also said that the reason could be that countries in the Middle East do not allow political campaigning which gives a choice to voters to choose a particular constituency in their home towns. An estimated 5.5 million overseas Pakistanis in 105 countries have been, for years, demanding their right to vote. Previous governments have made only empty promises of allowing overseas Pakistanis to vote or to have representation in the national and provincial legislatures reportedly owing to a number of reasons including operational costs, ban of political activities in some countries and even having to make changes legal and constitutional amendments.
A posting on the Pakistan Consulate in New Yorks website reads, The Government of Pakistan is considering granting the right of vote as well as representation in National and Provincial Assemblies to Overseas Pakistanis.
An early response would enable the government in assessing the extent of interest among the Pakistani Diaspora in the electoral process and taking a final decision in this regard.
Pakistanis residing in the UAE reacting to the opinion polls said they, too would like to voice their opinion.
We make up a majority of overseas Pakistanis and we are ready to voice our opinion, so why have we not been asked? said Mohammed Ali, a resident of Sharjah.
I will get in touch with the Dubai consulate and give them the reference of the US and UK offices and ask them when we will be able to give our opinion, he added.
http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArti...tember/theuae_September104.xml§ion=theuae
