ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary has said that the demonstration process of electronic voting machine (EVM), under the government’s electoral reforms agenda, will be completed within a week.
The minister said this while briefing the media persons on Tuesday about decisions taken in the federal cabinet that met with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.
The minister said, “Initially we have ordered 500 EVMs for trials in the elections of bar councils and press clubs.” He said all the 36 conditions of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have been fulfilled in initial trials of the EVMs. The EVMs are being manufactured by three companies.
Fawad said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has filed a petition in the court to deprive the overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote while it is among the government’s top priorities to give them basic right of voting as the government considers them an integral part of the country. He said, “We are waiting for the PPP’s response in this regard to finalise the legislative procedure.”
He said that the cabinet prayed for the martyrs of the Ghotki train accident and victims of a Pakistan origin family in Canada. He said the incident of Canada vindicates Prime Minister Imran Khan’s reservations regarding rising trends of Islamophobia in the West. Condemning the incident, the cabinet stressed on western countries to take immediate steps to root out the major cause of Islamophobia.
He said that the prime minister has directed the Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi to finalise the reforms in transportation and logistics. The Law Minister Farogh Naseem briefed the cabinet about reforms in criminal law.
The cabinet was informed that around 17 million people are getting benefits of Ehsas programme. The data of Ehsas programme is being digitalised to make it more transparent.
The cabinet was briefed that Utility Stores Corporation is making sales of over Rs100 billion and first time it has come out of loss.
The cabinet approved the Corona relief package for Tajikistan to help fight against the pandemic.
The cabinet also accorded the approval to record the national anthem of Pakistan in modern vogue.
To a question, the minister said, “We are ready to negotiate with the opposition but there would be no compromise on bargaining with corrupt elements.”
The minister said Mubashir Hassan has been appointed as managing director of Associated Press of Pakistan (AAP). He further informed that Tariq Malik has been appointed as the new chairman of Nadra (National Database and Registration Authority) in view of his vast experience.
There have been more than 60 appointments during the government’s tenure and all have been made transparently, the information minister added.
Fawad said that the federal cabinet has rejected the request of Pakistan Television (PTV) to sign an agreement with Indian companies – Star and Sony – to broadcast the upcoming Pakistan-England cricket series. “The cabinet has rejected the request of PTV to sign an agreement with Star and Sony to air the England-Pakistan cricket series,” Fawad said.
“Star and Sony have a monopoly over all the cricket content of South Asia and the entire rights are with the Indian companies,” Fawad added. “We cannot sign an agreement with any Indian company and so the series will not be aired in Pakistan,” he stated. “However, we will try to find a middle ground by approaching the ECB [English Cricket Board],” the minister added.
He said the government had already made it clear that relations with India depend on whether or not the latter would revoke its August 5, 2019 actions [regarding Occupied Kashmir’s autonomy].
“Our ties [with India] cannot be normalised until those actions are withdrawn,” he maintained.
“The cabinet has approved appointing an independent chairman and board of directors of the First Women Bank,” Fawad informed.
He further stated that a comprehensive draft with regard to the criminal law reforms had been submitted with the premier.
