WhyOverseasPakistanismustgettovotein2013 GeneralElectionsinPakistanandSolutionsforElection CommissionofPakistan

ThejoboftheSupremeCourtisnottoworryaboutthehowdifficulttheimplementationofalawcan be,buttosafeguardtheConstitution.Theexecutionofoverseasballotshasbeenperformedby100+ countries,it'sabouttimePakistandoesitandtheOverseasPakistanismakeastrongdemandtomake theirvoicesheard,especiallywhentheyareresponsibleforabout$13billioninremittanceperyear." Writtenby:AliGhumman,JibranIlyas,HarisSiddiqui Date:November5,2012 1

TableofContents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................3 OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS .............................................................................................................4 TIMELINE OF OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS VOTING RIGHTS ISSUE ................................................5 CASE FOR OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS VOTING RIGHTS.................................................................7 Economic Case........................................................................................................................... 7 Social Case ................................................................................................................................ 7 Political Case ............................................................................................................................. 8 IS OVERSEAS VOTING PRACTICAL? ...........................................................................................9 Solutions for ECP by Overseas Pakistanis...................................................................................... 9 CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................13 CREDITS ...................................................................................................................................14

ExecutiveSummary
ThepurposeofthispublicationistoensurethatOverseasPakistanisgettherighttovoteastheyarea hugestakeholdersofPakistaneconomyandhavepotentialtoplayanevenlargerrolegiventheygeta chancetovoteandparticipateincountry'sdemocracy. InDecember2011,ImranKhan'spoliticalparty,PakistanTehreekeInsaf(PTI)movedapetitionin SupremeCourtofPakistan(SC)forOverseasVotingRights.InFebruary2012,therewasapositivenews fromSCandElectionCommissionofPakistan(ECP)thatOverseasPakistaniwillbeallowedtovotein 2013elections.However,onSeptember26,2012,theECPhaddeferredtheRighttoVotecitingthatit won'tbepossibleforGeneralElections2013. Thispaperwilldiscusstheeconomic,socialandpoliticalcaseforOverseasPakistanisrighttovoteinthe upcomingElectionsinPakistanof2013andbringforwardthetestimonialsofPakistanislivinginUnited Statesontheirfeelingsonthevotingrights.Itwillalsodiscusshowothercountriesareaccomplishing theoverseasvotingandwhyit'stimeforPakistan'sECPtostepupandgivethevotingrightstoOverseas Pakistanis. ThereisalotatstakeinthenextGeneralElectionsinPakistan.ThePakistanislivingabroadareintouch withPakistanmoresothaneverbecauseofthemediachannelsinfluxandtheriseofsocialmedia.Itis hightimethatthepeoplewhopourtheirheartsouttorescuePakistanoutofearthquakesandfloodsbe givenachancetoparticipateincountry'sdemocraticprocessofelectingit'sleadership.

OverseasPakistanis

Theterm"OverseasPakistanis"isofficiallyrecognizedbytheGovernment.TheMinistryof OverseasPakistaniswasestablishedin2008toexclusivelydealwithallthemattersandaffairs oftheoverseasPakistanissuchasattendingtotheirneedsandproblems,intendingschemes andprojectsfortheirwelfareandworkingforresolutionoftheirproblemsandissues.Overseas PakistaniworkersarethesecondlargestsourceofForeignExchangeRemittancestoPakistan afterexportsandoverthelastseveralyears,theforeignexchangeremittanceshavemaintained asteadyrisingtrend,witharecordedincreaseof21.8%from$6.4millionin200708to$7.8 millionduring200809.In200910,Pakistanisenthome$9.4billion,the11thlargestinthe world.By2012,Pakistanincreaseditsrankingto10thintheworldforremittancessenthomeat $13billionperannum . TheLawofVotingandPakistaniCitizenship: AccordingtothePakistaniCitizenshipAct1951,thefollowingareconsideredPakistanCitizens: a)AnyoneborninPakistanafterthisActof1951. b)Ifone'sparenthasPakistaniCitizenshipthenapersonborntothatparentmayalsoget citizenship. TherearemanyPakistanislivingoutsideofPakistanwhoqualifytobecitizens.Whydoesit matterifyouarecitizenofPakistan?AccordingtotheConstitutionofPakistan,Apersonshall beentitledtovoteif(a)heisacitizenofPakistan;(b)heisnotlessthaneighteenyearsofage; (c)hisnameappearsontheelectoralroll;and(d)heisnotdeclaredbyacompetentcourtto beofunsoundmind . TheLawsupportsthevotingrightsofOverseasPakistanis,therefore,theSCrulingofgranting rightofvotetoOverseasPakistaniswillalwaysuphold.
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1 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_diaspora http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html

TimelineofOverseasPakistanisVotingRightsIssue
November15,1993 TheSCofPakistanthroughjudgmentconsideredthesuggestionforgrantofrightofvotetothe OverseasPakistanisreasonableandfounditproperthatanexerciseisundertakeninthefirst instancebytheauthoritiesconstitutionallyentrustedwiththetask. October1997 ACabinetCommitteewasappointedbythethenPrimeMinister,forexaminingtheissueof grantofrightofvotetotheOverseasPakistanis.ThesaidCommitteemaderecommendations in1998,whereastheM/oForeignAffairsviewedthatitisadifficultproposition. May1999 TheParliamentaryAffairDivisionontheadviceofCabinetDivisionmovedaSummaryforthe Cabinet.ThatSummarywasplacedontheagendaoftheCabinetthricebutcouldnotbe considered. September2007 OnthedirectionofthethenPrimeMinistertoexaminetheissuetakingintoaccountalllegal andpracticalissuesinconsultationwiththeElectionCommission,thematterwastakenupwith ECP.TheCommissionrecommendedproxysystemforoverseasPakistanistoexercisetheirright ofvote,buttheissueremainedunsettledduetochangeinGovernment. June2009 AsummaryforthePrimeMinisterregardinggrantofrightofvotetotheoverseasPakistanis wasinitiatedthroughMinistryofLawandJustice.TheMinistryofLawandJusticehashowever, returnedtheSummarywithcommentsthati)itrequiresamendmentintheElectoralRolls,Act, 1974whichistheadministrativeconcernoftheECPandtheMinistryoftheParliamentary Affairs.ii)thatin1974,thematterwasexaminedanditwasnotconsideredworthwhileasit couldcreateproblemsandentailunnecessaryexpenditure. December2011 ImranKhan'spoliticalparty,PakistanTehreekeInsaf(PTI)movedapetitioninSCforOverseas VotingRights. February2012 SCandECPruledthatOverseasPakistaniwillbeallowedtovotein2013elections.
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http://202.83.164.28/moopsm/frmDetails.aspx?opt=news&id=23

September26,2012 TheECPhaddeferredtheRighttoVotecitingthatitwon'tbepossibleforGeneralElections 2013. November7,2012 ThenexthearingonthisissuehasbeenadjourneduntilNovember7,2012.Itisimperativefor everyPakistanitostandupforthecauseandsendtheirfeedbacktoSCandtheECP. TheLawandtheImplementation ItwastheECPwhoispredictingproblemswithoverseasvotingandthecostsbeing unmanageable.ChiefJusticeofSChassupportedthevotingrightsofOverseasPakistanison record.ItisestablishedthattheConstitutionofPakistanandtheSCfullysupportstheVoting RightsofOverseasPakistanis. TheConstitutionassignstheSCauniqueresponsibilityofmaintainingharmonyandbalance betweenthethreepillarsoftheState,namely,theLegislature,theExecutiveandtheJudiciary. AsguardianoftheConstitution,theCourtisrequiredtopreserve,protectanddefendthisbasic document.4 Hence,thejobofthecourtisnottoworryaboutthe"how"i.e.thecostsofvotingrightsand thedifficultyofimplementationisnotthecourt'sresponsibility.TheSCrulingshouldbe reasonsenoughfortheECPtolookforsolutionsratherthandenyingtherightsofvotingyet againtothedeservingOverseasPakistanis.

http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/web/page.asp?id=113

CaseforOverseasPakistanisVotingRights

TherearemanyreasonstosupportthatOverseasPakistanisdeservetovoteinGeneral ElectionsofPakistan.Thefollowingcaseswillhighlightwhyit'sabsolutelyimperativethat justicebeservedforOverseasPakistanis,whichwillalsohelpPakistaninthelongrun.

EconomicCase
ThereareaboutsevenmillionPakistanisresidingin106countries .Whilethisisafractionof thepopulationitsahugepartoftheVotersofPakistani.e.4.92%oftheFER2007voters.Itis anevenbigger9.1%oftheverifiedvotersof2007andthatmakesasignificantchunkofour politicsoneweshouldntignore . Withatotaldisposableincomeof$114billionand0.2%increaseinpercapitaincome,the $10.9billionofremittanceaddmuchneededstimulustotheeconomyandhelpthecountry growoverall .In2012,theremittancesinPakistanisexpectedtosurgetoabout$13billion. WiththatsignificantcontributionofOverseasPakistanistoPakistaniEconomy,thereareno twoopinionsontheimpacttheOverseasPakistanishaveontheeconomy.Therefore,the numberstrulyadvocatetheneedofgettingtheOverseasPakistantheirrighttovote.
7 6 5

SocialCase
Mostofthe7millionPakistanisabroadhavetheirfamiliesbackhome,hencetheyshouldhave arighttodecidethegovernmentthatwillgoverntheirlovedones. Theeducation,health,legalpolicies,etc.notonlyaffectthelovedonesalreadytherebutalso greatlyaffectthechancesofthosePakistanisreturningbacktothecountry.Withthelocal braindrainonanalltimehigh,it'stimeOverseasPakistanisweregiventherighttochoose theirownleaders. OfficialestimatesofPakistansOverseasEmploymentCorporationarethatcloseto36,000 professionals,includingdoctors,engineersandteachershavemigratedtoothercountriesin thelast30yearsanunofficialestimateputsthenumbercloserto45,000.Thisdrainislikelyto continuesinceasmuchas38%offolkssaidthattheyarelookingforgreenerpasturesabroad permanently8.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_diaspora http://www.ecp.gov.pk/VoterStats.aspx 7 http://dawn.com/2012/05/23/percapitaincomerisesmarginally 8 http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/12953/changingtidespakistansbraindraininreverse/

OverseasPakistaniscontributeextremelyheavilytocharitableandrebuildingcauses.Itis estimatedthatthePakistaniDiasporaintheUSgiveback$1billionannuallytocharitieswithin Pakistan;whenaccountedformoneyandgoods,thereisanestimatecontributionof$250 million;nottomentionthevolunteeredhoursaccountingtoabout$750million . Again,theimpactofOverseasPakistanisisbackedbythenumbersverywell.Theintangibles areequallygreatofsuchsupportofOverseasPakistanis.ThepeoplelivinginPakistanneverfeel aloneinthetimesofcrisesbecausetheyknowthattheirbrothersandsistersoverseaswill cometotherescue. Moreover,Militaryandgovernmentpersonnelareoutofthecountryinmanyinstances.Addto thatthePakistanisthathavetoleaveduetofamilyemergencies,medicaltreatments,and otherneedsandyouhaveapartofcitizenrythatisleftoutoftheelectoralprocessduetoa lackofabsenteeballots.
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PoliticalCase
TheoverseasPakistanipopulationisconcentratedinSaudiArabia,UAE,UK,USA,andCanada, makinguparound65%ofallthePakistaniDiaspora . Twoofthesenationsarestrongalliesinmanymattersconcerningthewaragainstterrorism, policymatters,etc.anditwillbeextremelygainfulforPakistantoengageitsexpatsinthe Pakistanielectionsinorderforthemtobecomelobbyistsforthecountry.Pakistanismissingan opportunitybyalienatingthosewhohaveapassionforPakistanandcanmixwithCongressmen andlocalPoliticianstofurtherthecauseofthisgreatnation. ThepridefactorofPakistanisisdiminishing.IfPakistanisdon'tgettoparticipateandarejust usedascashcows,thepatriotismandtheconnectionbacktothecountrywillregresseven more.Perhapswehavelostafewgenerationsbutweshallmakesurethatourgenerationand theonesafterusdonotmakethesamemistakeof.InAmerica,peoplestoodinthreetofive hourlinestoexercisetheirvotingrightseveninthestateswheretheelectionsarenotsoclose. ItissomethingtheAmericansfeelproudofandthatinfusesPatriotism.Pakistanishavegreat enthusiasm.Infact,wherePakistanislackskill,theymakeitupbyenthusiasmandhardwork; thevotingrightswillfurthergrowthesenseofprideinthenationandtheresultswillonlybe positive.

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http://pcp.org.pk/pdf_word_docu/Diaspora_summary.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_diaspora

IsOverseasVotingPractical?

TherighttovoteforInternationalDiasporaisestablishedinabout115countriesaccordingtoa reportfrom2007bytheInstituteofInternationalDemocracyandElectoralAssistance .In 2005Iraqnationalelections,thecountryvotingprogramallowedvotingin36citiesand14 countriesthroughexternalpollingstations.Indonesia,whichallowsforamixedprocedureof personal,postal,andproxyvotingtoitsexpatshadacostof$6milliononlyinthe2004general elections. Asseenabove,thepoliticalclimateorthecostsofOverseasvotingdoesnotdetercountriesto skiptheOverseasballotaltogether.Ifacountryrecognizesthevalueofitsexpats,theymust alsogivethemtherighttovote.
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SolutionsforECPbyOverseasPakistanis
ThesystemofeballotingiscurrentlyinplaceinUSAfreeofchargeformilitaryvotersstationed outsidetheUSA.AnoverseasPakistanicanpayanupfrontfeetosubmitvotingapplicationand toregisterhis/heraccountonlinewiththeECPusinguniqueandconfidentialinformationsuch asNICOPnumberalongwithdateofbirthnolaterthanaspecificdate(forinstance90days beforetheelectionwhenthecaretakergovernmenttakescharge).TheECPcanconfirmthe qualificationofthevoterbeforesendingtheballottovoter'srespectiveconsulate(ifsendingto thevoter'sphysicaladdressoremailaddressisnotpossible)30dayspriortotheelection.The votercanthenmakearrangementswiththelocalconsulatetoreceivetheballot.Thevoter mustreturntheballotontheelectiondaytotheirrespectiveconsulateviamailoremailorfax. (FahadKhan,Oklahoma) AnothersimplesolutionistoallowallOverseasPakistaniswithNICOPtovote.Theyshouldget apersonalcodewhichtheycanuseonvotingwebsiteorgiveitonthephonetocasttheirvote. (NaumanChaudary,NewJersey) InUS,mailinballotisacommonpracticesandacheapandpracticalwaytofacilitatevotingfor overseasPakistaniintheirrespectivecountries.Pakistaniembassiesshouldputupa'Request forMailinBallotForm'ontheirwebsiteandthelistofcandidatesandconstituenciesforall nationalandprovincialassembliesofPakistan.OverseasPakistanisshoulddownload,printand fillouttheformandattachthecolorphotocopyoftheirNICOPwiththeform.Embassyshould,
11 http://diasporamatters.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/05/DiasporaToolkitBooklet7.pdf 9

uponverificationofNICOP,thenmailtheballotforthosepeoplewhosenttherequestform. Oncethemailinballotarrives,thevotershouldfillinthenameoftheconstituencyandthe nameofcandidatetheywanttovoteforontheballotandmailittotheembassy.Embassy shouldcollecttheballotandsendthesealedmailedinballotstoElectionCommissionof Pakistanindiplomaticpouch,whoshouldcounttheoverseasPakistanivotes.(AsadFaizi, Seattle)

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TestimonialsofOverseasPakistanisonVotingRights
SeveraltestimonialswerecollectedonthevotingrightsofOverseasPakistanis.Theunderlying messagewasthatwhentheGovernmentandSCrecognizesthecontributionsofOverseas Pakistanis,theyshallmakeitaprioritytogettheminvolvedinthedemocraticprocessby grantingthemthevotingrights.HerearethetestimonialscollectedfromPakistanislivingin UnitedStatesofAmerica: NaumanChaudary,FinancialAnalyst OverseasPakistanisarebackboneofPakistaneconomy.WesupportourcountryPakistaninany kindofneed,disastersorevenjustbasicZakat.Takingtherightofnotabletovoteinelection 2013isunfairandwillbeverybigmistakeyouwilldo.EventhoughwearenotlivinginPakistan, butourheartdoesbeepPakistan,PakistanandPakistan.Weraiseourheadandtalkwithpride thatwearefromPakistan.IwouldrequestfromElectioncommissionandSupremecourtto grantusrighttovoteasoverseasPakistanis. FahadKhan,LeadStrategicPlanner,OfficeofChiefOperatingOfficer,OklahomaState DepartmentofHealth,OklahomaCity,OK,USA. IamamongthosesixmillionOverseasPakistaniswhocontributedapproximately$12billionin remittancesin2011asperTheWorldBankRemittanceData,2011.Eventhough,Overseas Pakistanisconstituteonly3%oftotalPakistanipopulation,theircontributionin2011alone placedPakistanamongtoptenrecipientsofremittancesamongdevelopingcountriesand represented5%tothePakistan'sGDPin2011.ThedecisionofElectionCommissionofPakistan (ECP)nottoengageOverseasPakistanisintheupcomingnationalelectionduetobudgetissues isunacceptableespeciallyconsideringthatourremittancehassurpassed$65billionduringthe last10yearsanditsoutstandingcontributiontotheGDPriseisevident.Asanoverseas Pakistani,IexpectthatmycontributiontowardsPakistanisacknowledgedandhenceIdemand ECPmyrighttotakeownershipofPakistanbycastingmyvoteintheupcomingnational elections. ShoaibChaudhary,President&CEO,SpruceITAssetRecoveryLLC TheremittanceofOverseasPakistanisisahugefactorofPakistan'seconomy.Theirinvolvement InpoliticalprocesswillbeveryhealthyforPakistan. MuhammadN.Malik,StudentatPlazacollege ArgumentisverysimplethatallPakistanisincludingoverseashaverighttovotetoengageinto politicalprocess.WhenGovt.iswillingtoacceptmoneysentbyoverseasPakistanis,whynot theyaccepttheirvotes.AspermyknowledgetermoverseasPakistaniisalsorecognizedbythe Govt.ofPakistanandtheycreatedaministrytodealwiththeproblemsofoverseasPakistani.

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EvenoverseasministerMr.FarooqSattarwantstogivevotingrightto40millionPakistanis overseas. AsadFaizi,SoftwareTechnologistandEntrepreneur Universaladultsuffrageisthefundamentalrightofeverycitizenandthebasisofdemocracy. PakistaniconstitutionprovidesthesamerightsandprivilegestothePakistanislivingabroadas thoselivinginPakistan.OverseasPakistanisarepatrioticandvibrantcommunity,wholove PakistanandsupportPakistanwiththeirintellectualandfinancialassets.SupremeCourtof Pakistanhasdirectedthegovernmenttofacilitatethisfundamentalrighttoalloverseas Pakistanis,basedontheirNICOP. SamraCheema,MarriageandFamilyTherapist SnatchingtherightsofoverseasPakistaniswillbeaseriousmistake.Theypourtheirheartsand pocketsoutforeverynaturaldisasterinPakistanandcontinuetopumpthePakistaneconomy withremittance.IwouldevenarguethatsomeoverseasPakistanisaremorepatrioticthanthe oneslivinginPakistan,therefore,IappealtotheSupremeCourtandElectionCommissionof PakistantograntOverseasPakistanisthevotingrights.

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Conclusion

ThereisnodenyingthattheOverseasPakistanisplayasignificantroleintheeconomyof Pakistan.ThereisalsonodenyingthattheConstitutionofPakistanrulesthattheOverseas Pakistanisshallhavetherighttovote.TheSChasruledthattherightofvotingshallbe exercised.EventheECPagreedinFebruaryof2012thatOverseasPakistanisdeservetheright tovoteandtheycanvoteintheGeneralElectionsof2013.Thepredicteddifficultiesin implementationandthecostsofputtingasysteminplacetocollectOverseasPakistanis'vote shallnotdetertheECPtotakeawaytheirConstitutionalRight. TheimportanceofOverseasPakistaniswasmagnifiedafterthe2005EarthQuakeinPakistan andtheFloodsin2010.TheOverseasPakistanisstandbytheirbrothersandsistersinevery testingmoment.Theyarewillingtoplayanevenlargerroleoncegiventheopportunityinthe democraticprocess.WhentheygettopicktheleadersofPakistan,theywillmostlikelybemore willingtoinvestinPakistanandmayconsidermovingbackaswell.ThebraindrainthatPakistan suffersrightnowisverydiscouragingandthecountrymustconsiderthelongterminitiativesto getthebrightmindsbacktoPakistan.Othercountriesintheregionhavebeenabletoachieve thereturnofhumanassetsandPakistancanachievethesame. ThereareseveralwaysthatcanbeutilizedbytheECPtofacilitatetheOverseasVotingas highlightedinthispaper.Inthepast,theOverseasPakistanishavenotcaredsomuchaboutthe votingbutthetimesarechangingandPakistanisabroadaremoreintouchwithPakistanvia SatelliteMediaChannelsandSocialMedia.Furthermore,thereisalotatstakeinthenext GeneralElectionsinPakistan.TheneedforthehourisbipartisansupportfortheOverseas VotingRightsCampaign. We,theauthorsofthispaper,highlyencourageit'saudiencetosharethispaperoryour thoughtswiththeSupremeCourtofPakistanatmail@supremecourt.gov.pk;Election CommissionofPakistanatinfo@ecp.gov.pk;MinistryofForeignAffairsat consularaffairs@mofa.gov.pkandDr.MuhammadFarooqSattar,FederalMinisterforOverseas Pakistanisatdoctorfarooqsatter@yahoo.com.

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Credits

CoAuthors:AliGhumman,JibranIlyasandHarisSiddiqui Contributors:NaumanChaudary,FahadKhan,ShoaibChaudhary,MuhammadN.Malik,Asad Faizi,SamraCheema,NadiaAhsan,KamalPirzada FacebookPageAdminsofhttps://www.facebook.com/OverseasPakistanisRightToVote ImranKhan(ChairmanPTI)forbeinganinspirationtoallthreecoauthors FauziaKasuri,foralwayssupportingandencouragingtheYouth

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