A total of 60,940 prisoners, among whom 2,723 expressed their interest in voting
Leading up to the upcoming general elections, a significant initiative has been undertaken within Punjab’s prison system, enabling 1,118 incarcerated individuals to exercise their voting rights through the use of postal ballots.
As per the Department of Prisons, Punjab, the correctional facilities in the region currently house a total of 60,940 prisoners. Among them, 2,723 individuals expressed their desire to participate in the electoral process. Approximately 1,500 postal ballots were received by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from these applicants.
The department ensured meticulous adherence to the prescribed procedure for facilitating postal voting. However, due to the release of a portion of the prisoners, the remaining postal ballots were returned to the ECP.
This innovative effort underscores a commitment to democratic principles, allowing individuals within correctional facilities to engage in the electoral process. The Election Commission is set to announce the results of the postal ballots in due course.
It is noteworthy that the information provided by the Prisons Department did not contain details regarding the participation of prominent political figures such as Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Parvez Elahi, and Sheikh Rasheed, in casting their votes within Adiala Jail.
