Unplugged With Guppies — Sa1eem

[Sa1eem]

Re: Unplugged With Guppies — Sa1eem

@Amal

Allow me to disagree with your view. Being settled abroad does not mean that we are not concerned with our country. In any case, one way or the other, we remain attached with our motherland and this is strong enough a reason to vote in elections.

Secondly, your vote is an untransferable right which rests with you exclusively. If you do not vote, it’s dead. It is your duty to help country find the most suitable team to run its affair. Even if you live abroad, will not you like your countrymen to benefit from a vote which is educated, mature, sensible and calculated, and eventually have better a government, a better country and a better life?

@rangoli

I will agree with Amal here, it might not make a differenc to you, but your vote will surely make a difference to those who reside there.

Also, since you said your inclination is towards MQM, you might will vote for them, but on second thought, which party is closest to your political preferences?

@kakaballi

If you are a Pakistani citizen, it is your DUTY, not right, to vote. We might not value it but you can ask any Spanish person around you how precious they think their vote is, after years of dictatorship in their country.

If you like military rule in Pakistan, then its another matter.

I appreciate different views. No doubt Pakistanis settled abroad keep their attachments and are always concerned about Pakistan and well being of Pakistan.

Regardless, giving vote is a different thing to having attachments and concerns. There is technical hitch here.

Pakistan has parliamentary system where each elected member has their own constituency and in parliament they represent voters living in their constituency. Elected Assembly member also represents Pakistan generally and in this case he represents all Pakistanis regardless of they are from his constituency or not.

For me, even though I have residential address in Pakistan, I could not say that I really live in any election constituency to have someone representing me from there. Thus for me, an elected member from all parts of Pakistan (each and every constituency) represent me as they represent Pakistan in general, but me making someone representing me from any particular constituency would be not morally right (in my view).

Note: A voter can have residential address in one election constituency or many constituencies, but his voting right is normally in constituency where he lives (or registered as living). He could not vote in constituencies he does not live even though he might have residential address there (or belongs there).

Same should be for oversees Pakistanis that they should only vote in constituency they live (or at least temporarily living), but as they do not live (even temporarily unless they are visiting) in any Pakistani constituency, they should not vote.

[Well, that is my view. It does not mean all should hold such views and I respect views even if it is different than mine].