ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said it faced “unwarranted criticism” from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who “widely propagated” and accused it of opposing the introduction of an electronic voting system and balloting rights for foreign Pakistanis, majority of whom is understood to be a supporter of the opposition party.
Addressing an event in connection with the National Voters Day in Islamabad, Sikander Sultan Raja, the chief election commissioner (CEC), said the tribunal was never opposed to the suggestion of former prime minister Imran Khan, and said it has been taking measures to ensure transparency in the coming general elections.
Raja said his commission has also gone after “elements” who attempted to employ lawlessness and irregularities to influence the polling.
As a result of these measures, the confidence of people in elections, the democratic process and the commission has increased, he said. He further said an effort has also been made to ensure the implementation of the election code of conduct by taking across-the-board action against violators.
Raja said the election commission supported the use of technology in the process. “But the regime should be approved by all the stakeholders […] so that people can easily exercise their right to franchise and secrecy of vote could be ensured,” he said.
He added we have not opposed the electronic voting machines (EVMs) or the voting right of overseas Pakistanis, as claimed by Khan and members of his party, but there should be a way for this.
“I challenge all critics to show one instance where the ECP opposed electronic voting machines or voting rights for overseas Pakistanis, but there should be a procedure,” he said.
He also insisted that politicians should avoid raising slogans in favour of EVMs without considering the overall mechanism that would eventually make the entire election process “suspicious”. He added he couldn’t make the general elections controversial by acting in haste.
Mentioning the local bodies’ elections as an important one, Raja said his institution is serious in its conduct.
He said the process of local government elections has been completed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. LG elections in the capital will be held on December 31, while the second phase of elections in Sindh will be held on January 15. He said polling for the local bodies in the flood-hit areas of Balochistan will be held on Sunday.
The official said ECP are also ready for the local elections in Punjab which he said will be held in the last week of April.
