Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD:
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved two ordinances in line with the government’s efforts to bring about reforms in the country’s electoral process.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry while addressing a post-cabinet meeting press conference said that the federal cabinet had approved the two ordinances in line with the same aim. He said that the government’s electoral reforms are consisted of four parts including EVMs, e-voting for overseas Pakistanis, use of biometric authentication, and legislation. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would now be able to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next elections.
“The election commission will also work to develop a strategy for allowing overseas Pakistanis to cast their vote,” the information minister said.
Chaudhry said the government had completed work on legislation regarding electronic voting, while the technology works for the biometric voting system were still underway.
Speaking of ECP’s decision to allow a recount in the entire NA-249 constituency, Chaudhry said that the PTI demands a re-polling instead.
The minister said one of history’s “worst” rigging took place during the NA-249 by-election, and that is why the ECP had ordered a recount.
The federal minister said it would be “a joke” if a person with “such a low amount of votes” made their way into the National Assembly. PPP’s Abdul Qadir Mandokhel had secured victory with 16,156 votes. The PTI candidate on the other hand, Amjad Ali Afridi, 8,922 votes.
The information minister said coronavirus SOPs were not being followed in Karachi, and the Sindh government should start working on improving the situation there. “The cabinet has approved Sindh’s request for deployment of the army for ensuring implementation of the SOPs.”
Chaudhry said the federal government had decided to give extended Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
On the vaccination front, the minister said the anti-vaccine lobby was active not only in Pakistan but across the globe. “The people who get themselves vaccinated will stay safe from coronavirus.”
Chaudhry said the federal cabinet also approved a 90-day remission period for prisoners on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, the remission will not apply to prisoners sentenced over the more serious crimes.
The information minister said a facility to obtain succession certificates through NADRA will now be provided to overseas Pakistanis, and in the first phase, desks will open in twenty-four embassies.
The cabinet has approved the issuance of a commemorative coin to pay tribute to NED University Karachi on the 100 years of its establishment, he said.
The minister said the cabinet also approved a 10% withholding tax waiver on private sector bids in railways.
Chaudhry said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia would contribute to expanding bilateral ties. The premier will depart for the Kingdom on the 25th of Ramadan.
