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Pak missions receive postal ballots

Dubai : Pakistani missions abroad began receiving postal ballots as Pakistanis expatriates living in different countries started exercising their right to vote for presidential referendum a day before.

Like other countries of Gulf region, Pakistanis in UAE also began to use this right for the referendum for the first time in history when the consulate in Dubai and the embassy in Abu Dhabi on Sunday started to receive postal ballots for the April 30 presidential referendum.

Pakistanis go to the poll on April 30 to decide whether the reforms process started by President General Pervez Musharraf is good enough to keep him in the office for the next five years or not.

"Our postal ballot boxes kept at the consulate started filling up and we have big stacks of application forms for the postal ballot papers to clear before the afternoon of 29th," said an official of Dubai-based Pakistani Consulate.

"Those who obtained postal ballot papers personally from the consulate after producing either passport or national ID card, cast their vote, while others have an option of direct voting on April 30 at the consulate or the embassy," said the official.

"Though most of the people living in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah will probably choose to vote personally on April 30, there are many living in far-off areas in the UAE who will probably opt for postal ballot.

"Our consular service teams which we sent out four days earlier to other parts of the country have distributed loads of application forms and ballot papers and on Sunday we started receiving the ballot papers back," he added.

"Any Pakistani can cast his vote by postal ballot till April 29. If one chooses to go personally to the consulate he can cast the vote there. If he is living in a far-off place, then he can obtain the ballot paper from the local Pakistani association office or from the consular service team and send it by mail to the consulate in the name of assistant returning officer. There is a massive response and on April 30 we are expecting a huge turnout, the official further said.

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	Pak missions receive postal ballots Dubai : Pakistani missions abroad began receiving postal ballots as Pakistanis expatriates living in different countries started exercising their right to vote for presidential referendum a day before. Like other countries of Gulf region, Pakistanis in UAE also began to use this right for the referendum for the first time in history when the consulate in Dubai and the embassy in Abu Dhabi on Sunday started to receive postal ballots for the April 30 presidential referendum. Pakistanis go to the poll on April 30 to decide whether the reforms process started by President General Pervez Musharraf is good enough to keep him in the office for the next five years or not. "Our postal ballot boxes kept at the consulate started filling up and we have big stacks of application forms for the postal ballot papers to clear before the afternoon of 29th," said an official of Dubai-based Pakistani Consulate. "Those who obtained postal ballot papers personally from the consulate after producing either passport or national ID card, cast their vote, while others have an option of direct voting on April 30 at the consulate or the embassy," said the official. "Though most of the people living in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah will probably choose to vote personally on April 30, there are many living in far-off areas in the UAE who will probably opt for postal ballot. "Our consular service teams which we sent out four days earlier to other parts of the country have distributed loads of application forms and ballot papers and on Sunday we started receiving the ballot papers back," he added. "Any Pakistani can cast his vote by postal ballot till April 29. If one chooses to go personally to the consulate he can cast the vote there. If he is living in a far-off place, then he can obtain the ballot paper from the local Pakistani association office or from the consular service team and send it by mail to the consulate in the name of assistant returning officer. There is a massive response and on April 30 we are expecting a huge turnout, the official further said.
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