Preliminary software developed to extend voting facility to overseas Pakistanis: SC told

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: A preliminary software has been developed to extend electronic voting facility to overseas Pakistanis in general elections, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) informed the top court during a briefing on Monday.

A team of Nadra headed by its chairman Usman Y Mobin gave a detailed presentation to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and judges, Justice Umer Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan at the Supreme Court during the hearing regarding the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis.

The team apprised the bench about the way forward to empower overseas Pakistanis with the ability to cast their vote through the internet.

The judges observed that the development may be shared with all other stakeholders including Election Commission of Pakistan and parliamentarians so that the milestone may be achieved in time.

The case was later scheduled for Tuesday.

Earlier in January, Nadra apprised the apex court that a three-tier electronic mechanism – named the Internet Voting System for Overseas Pakistanis – will be developed at a cost of Rs150 million and within a period of four months. The ECP would provide the required funds for the project.

The three-tier internet voting mechanism includes voter registration and verification.