ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday showed its reservations over the use of electronic voting machine (EVM) during the briefing given by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and other senior officials of ECP, during the demonstration given by the MoST, raised multiple questions over EVM and emphasised to take on board all the stake holders including voters while using technology in voting process.
CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja further said that ECP believed in use of technology in election process, however it should be tested and must be free of loopholes.
The ECP during the briefing also emphasised for amendments in laws and rules related to elections. Answering reservations of the Commission, the team of Ministry of Science and Technology assured the electoral body that in light of recommendations of ECP, they will make EVM better and will again brief ECP when necessary. Briefing the ECP meeting headed by CEC Sikandar Sultan, Minister of Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz said that while making EVM, MoST tried its best to make a machine with no technical problems and easy in use in order to play its role in transparent elections.
Commission forms technical evaluation committee which will give final report to ECP after fully studying, observing every single part, function of EVM
Shibli Faraz stated that the machine was displayed for presentation and changes could be made in it when necessary.
The Commission, after the briefing, also formed a technical evaluation Committee which will give final report to ECP after fully studying and observing every single part and function of EVM.
ECP also approved to hire services of technical consultant who will help ECP in preparation of voter lists of overseas Pakistanis, data centres and voting of overseas Pakistanis.
The Commission during the briefing elaborated that the last day’s (Tuesday) meeting only included the presentation over EVM; saying that there was a lot to be done in this regard.
