PM directs concerned ministers to remove complexities for imposition of electronic voting system within deadline
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan has now given a deadline to the concerned ministers to clear legal and technical hurdles for giving voting right to overseas Pakistanis and imposition of electronic voting system through ordinance.
According to sources, PM has given deadline to concerned ministers to complete the task pertain to removing legal and technical complexities for giving voting right to the overseas Pakistanis and imposition of electronic voting system through ordinance. However, some ministers have expressed their reservations regarding the security and possible hacking of the electronic system by giving examples of Ghana and Kenya countries.
As per details, services of a consultant for imposition of electronic voting system has been made and the consultant will give his recommendations regarding security of e-voting system, its design and other concerned matters within one month. Similarly, adviser on parliamentary affairs and ministry of finance has been advised to arrange funds within six months for the purchase of electronic voting machine.
Available documents disclosed that the PM has also advised to empower Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to give voting right to overseas Pakistanis by amending Section 94 of the Election Act 2017 and for this an ordinance will be promulgated while amendment in Section 103 of the Election Act 2017 will also be made. Furthermore, a pilot project for use of modern technology in the bye election will be introduced.
It is also learnt from the documents that few ministers have raised their concerns in the federal cabinet meeting regarding security of electronic voting system. These ministers said that this system can be hacked due to security reasons. However, federal minister for science and technology and adviser on parliamentary affairs have been advised to consult ECP for finalizing electronic voting machine.
According to documents, Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs has been advised to consult Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate for amendments in relevant laws for use of electronic voting machine and giving voting right to overseas Pakistanis. Similarly, Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs and Minister for Science and Technology to consult the ECP for required quantity of electronic voting machine and submit final details within 15 days.
So far, several meetings of a sub-committee of the cabinet have been held under President of Pakistan for voting through internet.
Ministry of Information Technology has appointed a consultant for obtaining modern technology, audit of NADRA system through filter, electronic voting machine and voting through internet. And, for this, finance ministry has already released Rs 30 crore funds.
Documents also revealed that a letter has also been sent o ECP by Parliamentary Affairs Division regarding a report submitted in the Parliament. And, in its response, the ECP declared that its mandate regarding voting through internet is limited and amendment in Section 94 is required for voting through the internet in general election. More, a bill pertain to amendment in Section 94 and reforms in the general elections is currently pending with National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. Moreover, a pilot project can be started for use of electronic voting machine and bio-metric voting machine and a report in this regard is also pending with Parliament.
It is pertinent to mention that the pilot project report was placed before the National Assembly on 15th January, 2018 and before the Senate on 25th January 2018. However, discussions on the report could not take place so far.
