ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court will Wednesday (today) take up a writ petition seeking directions for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit a report regarding its objection against holding of the election 2023 by using EVM.
A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Ahtar Minallah will conduct hearing of the petition filed by Tariq Asad Advocate in person and cited Federation through Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, Election Commission of Pakistan through its Secretary, and Secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication as respondents. The petition prayed to the court it may direct the ECP to file its report regarding its the 37 objections against holding of the election 2023 by electronic voting machines EVM and/or other comments, if any, before this court so that after hearing the parties, it may pass an order in the better interest of the country. Tariq Asad also requested the court to direct the federal government to allow and facilitate the Election Commission to hold the elections 2023 honestly, fairly and justly in an independent manner in accordance with law without interference in their constitutional duty. He further requested the court to suggest the federal government to hold referendum among the people of Pakistan: “whether election may be held by EVM” as this is the most important national issue. He stated in his petition that the federal government has declared that the election 2023 shall be held using EVMs and with this determination, the EVM was introduced to the ECP and its operation was demonstrated before the commission.
It was then decided that National Assembly panel will on August 26 consider a bill, sponsored by a PTI member, providing for elections by direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines.
He added that reportedly the joint session of Parliament is being held to consider a bill regarding EVM and under this bill, the DRE machines will be set up in all the branches of the National Bank of Pakistan and Habib Bank Limited, which will be responsible for entertaining the voters for vote casting.