The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought comprehensive report from the Federation over progress of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms. Resuming the hearing of identical pleas over right of vote to overseas Pakistanis on Tuesday, a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also issued notices to Attorney General for Pakistan, Election Commission of Pakistan and Federation in the matter.
Counsel for the petitioners apprised the bench that governments of KPK, Punjab and Sindh have not granted right of vote to overseas Pakistanis. To which Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that the court has regards for overseas Pakistanis, saying the bench has to examine whether or not the court can decide the matter in hand in the large interest of the public.
Terming the oversees Pakistanis an asset of the country, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said that Pakistani immigrants in abroad are not only a source of remittance for the country but they also cannot be separated from their motherland. The bench observed that it has to be decided whether or not the apex court can issue directives to the Parliament for legislation. Later, hearing of the matter was adjourned for three weeks.