Türkiye’s Presidential, Parliamentary Polls: Early voting begins in Pakistan

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Turkish citizens living in Pakistan have begun casting their ballots for Türkiye’s upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

In this regard the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad under the commad of Ambassador Mehmet Paçacı has undertook excellent arrangements for the smooth sail of the process. The Ambassador was one of the amongst who used their voting right at about 11.00 a.m. in presence of the media persons on Saturday.

Talking to The Gulf Observer, he said that the Embassy had undertook elaborate arrangements to facilitate the voters in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and that ballot boxes, ballot papers and all the other required material has been provided for the exercise.

To a question he replied that ‘ we are thankful to the Pakistani authorities in Islamabad Lahore and Karachi for extending facilities for the completion of the process in a smooth way.

To another question the Ambassador said that Turkiye and Pakistan enjoy close brotherly relations and that both always stood together through thick and thin.

After casting his vote H.E. Mehmet Paçacı said that he was happy to perform his “civic duty.” Mehmet Paçacı is a scholarly figure and has a distinguished career in Foreign Service and education spanning over decades.

Turks, who are eligible to vote, are expected go to the polls across Pakistan until May 7.

As many as three polling stations have been set up at diplomatic missions — the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad, and Consulates in Karachi and Lahore.

Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in Türkiye on May 14, 2023, alongside parliamentary elections. Voters will elect a President for a term of five years. Early elections in the country were postponed due to the deadly earthquake. It is estimated that about 65 million voters will cast their votes in the elections (over 60 million in the country, and some 3.6 million abroad).

The President of Türkiye is directly elected through the two-round system, under which a candidate must obtain a simple majority (more than 50 percent) of the popular vote in order to be elected.

If no candidate secures an overall majority outright, then a runoff is held between the two most voted-for candidates from the first round, the winner of which is then declared elected.

For the first time this year, Türkiye’s Supreme Election Council has established ballot boxes in Pakistan, Belarus, Brazil, Estonia, Morocco, Montenegro, South Korea, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nigeria, Portugal, Slovakia, and Tanzania.

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s vice president has said that
Turkish expats living abroad should engage in not only the political process of their home country but also of the countries they are residing in, he said this during a press talk in London.

Fuat Oktay is in the British capital to attend the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.

Commenting on Turkish voter turnout in foreign countries, he said: “Since 2014, we have seen an increasing trend in voter turnout and participation
We expect every one of our citizens living abroad to be involved in the governance process in Türkiye.”

In her chat with the Gulf Observer, Ms. Emel Derinoz Tekin, Deputy Head of the Mission said that Turkish people in Pakistan are being being able to vote as per the legal procedured.

This actually the sixth time that those living abroad can vote for the Turkish President and the general elections.

She added that in Pakistan there are 5 hundred Turkish citizens that’s why the Embassy has made arrangements in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for the polling.

To a question the Deputy Head of the Mission said that we have been in touch with Pakistani authorities for the smooth flow of the procedure and that they are facing no problem in this regard and people are coming in the Embassy for the voting and the entire exercise is moving well.

In short the Pakistani authorities extended full cooperation to make the process easier for us.