Pakistan’s issues require local solutions, not the political views of overseas Pakistanis

[BouncerGuy]

SC asked to throw out overseas Pakistanis’ plea for vote

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to reject petitions seeking right to vote for overseas Pakistanis by challenging an amendment to Section 94 of the Elections Act, 2017.

The request has been moved on behalf of ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan highlighting that the overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote was very much recognised and the ECP was working tirelessly to extend this right, but a blanket and unqualified right cannot be claimed.

There is no denial of the right in question as it was merely subject to regulation and modalities which need to be fixed by the law, the ECP pleaded, adding that obligations being proposed through the petitions cannot be imposed on the state when no violation of any fundamental right has been made out.

Several petitions are pending before the court challenging amendments to the Elections Act 2017 filed by PTI founder Imran Khan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and others.

On Aug 24, 2022, the apex court had ordered removing objections raised by the registrar office with an observation that the Pakistani expatriates should be extended facilities on a priority basis since they contribute around $30 billion of badly needed foreign exchange to the country.

Now the ECP through a fresh application has contended that Constitution was based on trichotomy of power in which each organ of the state has its sphere of jurisdiction and thus cannot be transcend into the domain of other.

Unless the constitutionality of the law is tested on the touchstone of constitutional provisions and struck down, it will remain law of the land and duty of the court would be to enforce the same.

There is no caveat to the contention but the modalities of how voting right is to be exercised is something that is within the domain of the state’s legislative powers, the ECP said, adding that overseas Pakistan already enjoy the facility to vote in their respective constituencies within Pakistan.

DAWN NEWS

 

[emranabbas]

Imran Khan’s push for overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote was nothing more than a political stunt, he exploited his popularity abroad to benefit from what were essentially unverifiable and questionable votes.

If overseas Pakistanis truly want to vote, they should be required to physically be in Pakistan during elections. There should also be clear rules:

A minimum of 6 months residency per year in Pakistan,

A consistent monthly remittance to support the economy,

And absolutely no dual nationality loyalty to one country only.

Voting is a right, yes but it should come with responsibility and real ties to the country. Not just social media noise from abroad.

 

[emranabbas]

State of overseas pti supporters

The reason I keep saying you can't take pti supporters seriously

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

State of overseas pti supporters

The reason I keep saying you can't take pti supporters seriously

These guys are a massive embarrassment and tarnishing the name of Pakistanis in the Western World. They will soon lose respect for us because of these thugs.

 

[emranabbas]

These guys are a massive embarrassment and tarnishing the name of Pakistanis in the Western World. They will soon lose respect for us because of these thugs.

PTI and its supporters have played a significant role in damaging Pakistan’s image on the global stage. By openly airing the country's internal issues and political disputes, they've given the world a front-row seat to national instability, hoping the West would intervene. But instead of gaining support, they've only invited scrutiny and ridicule.

It's like a couple facing problems at home, but instead of resolving things privately, one partner decides to broadcast their most personal matters to the world achieving nothing but embarrassment and deepening the divide.

 

[emranabbas]

Here is another one these guys are definitely not mentally stable

 

[SportsWarrior]

Overseas Pakistanis don’t live in Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis don’t face the load-shedding, the inflation, the security concerns, or the daily struggles that we, the people living here, deal with every single day. Yet, from the comfort of their homes in foreign countries, overseas Pakistanis feel entitled to lecture us about which political party we should support and how we should run our country? This has to stop.

While we appreciate the remittances overseas Pakistanis send and the love they claim to have for Pakistan, they need to understand one thing: their political opinions, formed thousands of miles away, hold little weight in the reality we live in. Supporting a political leader or party from afar, based on rhetoric or what they watch on YouTube or social media, is easy when overseas Pakistanis don’t have to deal with the consequences of those decisions. It’s easy to idolize a leader when they aren’t stuck in a line for hours trying to get subsidized flour or wondering how to pay for their children’s education because the economy is in shambles.

Overseas Pakistanis sit in countries where they enjoy rights, stability, and opportunities—things that many of us here can only dream of. But instead of helping us practically or understanding our situation, overseas Pakistanis impose their idealistic views on us. They say, “This leader is great,” or, “This party will save Pakistan.” But do overseas Pakistanis even know what it’s like to deal with these leaders’ policies firsthand? Have they experienced the effects of their governance on the ground? No, they haven’t.

Overseas Pakistanis don’t deal with corrupt systems when trying to open a business. They don’t experience hospitals without medicines or schools without teachers. They don’t live in fear of the next political crisis making life even harder. So how can overseas Pakistanis possibly understand who is best for Pakistan?

It’s not just frustrating—it’s infuriating. Overseas Pakistanis argue and fight on social media, dividing families and friends here with their debates. They demand loyalty to certain leaders as if it’s a religious duty. But at the end of the day, overseas Pakistanis go back to their comfortable lives in the UK, the US, Canada, or wherever they are, while we are left to face the fallout.

If overseas Pakistanis truly care about Pakistan, they should stop preaching and start supporting in ways that matter. Invest in small businesses here. Sponsor the education of underprivileged children. Help improve healthcare facilities. Advocate for Pakistan on international platforms for better trade deals. These are the contributions that make a real difference—not divisive political opinions that are often based on half-truths or personal bias.

We live here. We know what’s best for us because we face the challenges every day. Respect that. Support us without imposing your views. And if overseas Pakistanis really want to help, they should start by listening to those of us who actually live in Pakistan, instead of assuming they know better.

extremely well said. This is a problem everywhere in South Asia. NRIs do similar things and impose their idealistic views on locals who are trying to survive their day to day struggles.