The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not yet decided whether to grant voting rights to four million overseas Pakistanis in the upcoming general elections. Earlier, the ECP was considering giving voting rights to Pakistanis who are settled abroad. "A final decision about granting the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis will be taken in the political parties' consultative meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday (today).
The decision was taken in a meeting of the ECP, which was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruudin G Ebrahim. The meeting was attended by Members, Secretary and all Provincial Election Commissioners and other senior officers.
The commission also agreed that results will be withheld and polling will be held again in any constituency where there are less than 10 percent votes of women. "A Bill suggesting re-poll on the polling station(s) where less than 10 percent of the women votes are polled so that to increase the number of women participation in the electoral process and to prevent such groups/parties entering into an agreement restraining women of a particular area or a polling station from exercising their right to vote, was approved unanimously by the Commission which is now being sent to the Ministry of Law for forwarding it to the Parliament for legislation.
During the meeting, five new political parties were allowed registration, with the Pakistan Muslim League - Like-minded being recognised as a separate political party. Others included Pakistan Justice Party, Pakistan Muhammadi Party, Public Forum, Pakistan Falah Party, Pakistan Hizbullah Party and All Pakistan Peoples Qaumi Movement. Lection symbols were allotted to three parties: Pakistan Rah-i-Haq Party (Charpoy), Sada-i-Pakistan Party (wrist watch), Tehreek Ehtahad-e-Adam (ring).
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