Pakistani expats in Oman feel let down by not being able to vote in upcoming polls

Muscat: Pakistani expats in Oman said that they are disappointed at not being able to cast their ballots overseas in the upcoming general elections in their country.
The polls that will be held on July 25, 2018 will include both parliamentary and provincial elections. While a bill that allows overseas Pakistanis to vote does exist, it hasn’t been passed in parliament.
Disappointed expats hope to vote by 2023
However, the Pakistani diaspora is quite large and spread across as many as 140 countries. Experts and people from the Pakistani civil society say that it would be very difficult for Pakistan to meet the technical and logistical requirements to facilitate overseas voters casting their ballot.
Pakistan Social Club (PSC) general secretary, Mohammad Zaeem said that the disappointment among Pakistani expats in Oman on not being able to vote was palpable.
“Of course, there is disappointment. This is because the level of patriotism among people here, I find, is more than that of people back home. They really wanted to vote, but hopefully we will be able to exercise our franchise in the 2023 general elections. Pakistani media should take up the issue, apart from overseas organisations,” he said.
PSC director, Aftab Geelani said that dignitaries and ministers from Pakistan visiting Oman had assured that they would enable the passage of a bill allowing overseas citizens to vote, but it was a letdown in the end.
“We were hoping that more would come of it. We were expecting to be able to vote, here, but if it is at least done by 2023, then that would okay, too,” Geelani added.
Farooque, a Pakistani expat, who is currently in Peshawar, said that he was delighted by the opportunity to be able to vote in his constituency, but hoped that he will be able to vote as an overseas voter in Oman next time. “I am really happy to be able to cast my vote here in Peshawar before coming to Oman on July 27. The election is on July 25 and my summer vacations ends on July 27 and I feel lucky. But I hope overseas voters can cast their votes away from home by 2023,” he remarked.