In the lead-up to the general elections, a notable initiative has been taken in Punjab's prison system, where 1,118 incarcerated individuals have exercised their right to vote through postal ballots.
According to the Department of Prisons, Punjab, the region’s correctional facilities house a total of 60,940 prisoners, among whom 2,723 expressed their interest in voting. Out of these applicants, approximately 1,500 postal ballots were received by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The department ensured that the prescribed procedure for facilitating postal voting was diligently followed. However, due to the release of a portion of the prisoners, the remaining postal ballots were returned to the ECP.
This pioneering effort highlights a commitment to democratic principles, allowing individuals in correctional facilities to participate in the electoral process. The results of the postal ballots will be announced by the Election Commission in due course.
Notably, the details released by the Prisons Department did not include information about notable political figures like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Parvez Elahi, and Sheikh Rasheed casting their votes in Adiala Jail.
