It was a big day for the only blue-domed building on Delhi's Embassy mile. While Pakistan keeps its date with democracy braving the rain in Lahore, the staff at the Pakistan High Commission in India have already cast their vote. Their date with the blue ink and ballot paper was already done and dusted in July.
The last date for receiving postal ballots was July 5. The Pakistan Election Commission had sent out forms to all diplomats in advance. These forms were to be filled and posted back latest by July 5.The sanctioned strength of staff here is over 100, but diplomatic rows have reduced the strength to about 80.
In a fiercely contested election, poll surveys suggest that Nawaz Sharif's PML(N) party and Imran Khan's PTI party are neck-to-neck in the fight. Every vote counts, and postal ballots might become extremely important.
This facility has been extended to many voters and not only diplomats posted abroad. Government servants, members of the armed forces, their spouses and their children can avail of this facility. People who are disabled were also entitled to this facility. There are 19,800 people with disabilities on the voters list. These ballots will be counted on July 26.
The option of casting votes by post was also extended to the staff deployed at the various polling booths across the country. Prisoners in jails in tribal areas of Khyber were also extended this facility. Reports suggest, however, that Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were not allowed to use this option to vote as prisoners had to write in to ask to be allowed to vote.
