Electoral Reforms discussion

[MenInG]

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Saturday that his government will introduce electoral reforms and electronic voting machines to ensure fair and transparent elections in the country. Delivering a speech after winning a trust vote in the National Assembly, the cricketer-turned-politician said his government plans to introduce electronic voting, enabling millions of Pakistanis abroad to vote in elections.

“We are bringing modern technology in elections for a transparent election process. We have decided to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the future. It is important to use them to counter the voter fraud claims made by the candidates who lose the polls. We are also working on putting up a system so that the overseas Pakistanis can cast their votes, Khan said. “Just like in the US where former president Donald Trump’s repeated allegations of electoral malpractice were debunked by a transparent system, Pakistan will also put in place the same system to ensure fair and transparent elections in the country.

“As captain in Cricket, I brought the concept of neutral umpiring, similarly my government will set in motion a fair electoral system, he said. Khan’s remarks came after Pakistan’s election commission on Friday expressed shock and disappointment over the prime minister’s allegations against it, asserting that the Senate elections were held as per the Constitution and it has “never come under any sort of pressure and God willing, will not in future as well.” Prime Minister Khan lashed out at the election commission which he said failed to stop corruption on Wednesday’s closely-contested Senate elections.

“You (ECP) discredited democracy - you damaged the morality of the nation by doing nothing to stop vote-buying,” he alleged. Khan’s criticism of the ECP came after Opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani defeated ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: candidate Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Wednesday, in a major blow to the Prime Minister who personally campaigned for his Cabinet colleague.

Rejecting Khan’s allegations, the commission said it has “never come under any sort of pressure and God willing, will not in future as well”. “We cannot ignore the law and the Constitution to please anyone,” said the ECP in its statement.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Senate elections would be held through a secret ballot, amid a raging controversy among the government and Opposition parties about allowing an open vote to avoid corruption.

https://www.news18.com/news/world/p...fair-elections-to-introduce-evms-3506045.html

 

[Bewal Express]

Great move. It will at least stop the blatant dhandli by Nooras and PPP in Punjab and Sindh

 

[speed_thrills]

Apparent EVM can be hacked. Ask Indian opposition.

 

[Bewal Express]

Apparent EVM can be hacked. Ask Indian opposition.

They will also use normal ballot papers as well.

 

[Bigboii]

Brilliant move!
anything that strengthens our democracy is a step towards the right direction

 

[Bigboii]

also IK and cricket puns are pure cringe...

 

[Bewal Express]

also IK and cricket puns are pure cringe...

To us maybe, but to people who are uneducated like most Nooras, it works.

 

[Bigboii]

To us maybe, but to people who are uneducated like most Nooras, it works.

As a Known Noora who doesn't hide his affiliations like many others on PP...

it doesn't work
and am sure even uneducated people would cringe at these cricket puns cause they're functioning human beings...

 

[Bewal Express]

As a Known Noora who doesn't hide his affiliations like many others on PP...

it doesn't work
and am sure even uneducated people would cringe at these cricket puns cause they're functioning human beings...

Maybe, but you have to put it simply for these simple people.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1611566/after-senate-upset-pm-pushes-for-reforms-to-ensure-transparent-polls

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday told the federal cabinet that he wanted regular updates on mechanisms being developed to ensure overseas Pakistanis can vote, in addition to the use of technology such as electronic voting machines (EVM).

The premier made the comments during the beginning of a session of the federal cabinet which was telecast live by state-run broadcasters.

"We can't have the kind of elections which have happened in the past," the prime minister said. "We need to use EVM technology for transparent elections and I want regular updates on it," he told his cabinet.

The prime minister said that he wanted to avoid any excuses of "we're not prepared for this technology" when the time came to use EVMs.

He stated that elections in Pakistan should be similar to the US and cited the example of former US president Donald Trump who could not find any evidence of rigging "despite all his efforts".

During the address, PM Imran also mentioned a "frightening report" by the Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (FACTI) panel.

According to the report, every year $1,000 billion are transferred from poor countries to rich countries and tax havens through money laundering. "Money belonging to poor countries, stolen through corruption, is lying in tax havens."

He said that the ruling elites and office holders of such countries have to send the ill-gotten wealth abroad otherwise it becomes noticeable. "They do this by weakening the institutions responsible for monitoring money laundering and illicit financial flows.

"They bring in [development] projects not because the country needs them but because they get a lot of kickbacks. Mega projects with mega kickbacks," said the prime minister, adding that the kickbacks were then transferred abroad.

"The nation has to pay for this by incurring debt and the price of that debt has to be paid through inflation."

He also said that in order to facilitate this transfer of money, the ruling elites made corruption acceptable in society and used their money to influence and pressurise the media and institutions. "This damages the morality of the nation".

The premier reiterated that even nations struck by great calamities could "stand back up", citing the examples of Germany and Japan in World War II. The greatest destruction is caused when morality is eliminated in a society, he said.

"We saw this in the [Senate] election. Money was openly exchanged and everyone knows the drama we witnessed.

The premier said that if a person such as former president Asif Ali Zardari "buys people through money, his intelligence and political vision [are praised]".

The biggest damage this caused to the country was to make corruption acceptable, he added.

He said when a country had no moral authority, it couldn't mete out justice and would bring different laws for the rich and the poor.

"The powerful get (National Reconciliation Ordinance) NROs and deals while only the poor go to jail. A nation is destroyed when its ability to ensure justice is finished."

After completion of the much-hyped Senate election process, all eyes are now set on the coming election for the key offices of chairman and deputy chairman of the upper house.

Last week, the ruling coalition’s candidate Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh suffered defeat at the hands of opposition’s Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in a major upset during the Senate elections, prompting PM Imran to announce that he would seek a vote of confidence afresh from the National Assembly.

In a show of strength, the prime minister secured 178 votes – six more than required – to win the vote of confidence from the lower house.

The opposition parties have managed to retain their majority in the upper house of parliament and are now hopeful of getting the top offices of chairman and deputy chairman for which elections through secret balloting will be held on March 12 (Friday).

As expected, a hung Senate emerged after last week's much-hyped elections on 48 seats of the upper house of parliament as the opposition and the ruling alliances now have 53 and 47 members, respectively, in the 100-member new Senate.

A day earlier, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formally nominated PPP's Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as its candidate for the office of the Senate chairman, but deferred its nominations for the offices of deputy chairman and the opposition leader.

Gilani will face incumbent Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, who has already been nominated as the candidate of the ruling alliance headed by the PTI.

 

[Savak]

Don't think this will make much of a difference. Zardari, Sharifs have all the money and resources in the world to hire the best hackers

 

[Bewal Express]

Don't think this will make much of a difference. Zardari, Sharifs have all the money and resources in the world to hire the best hackers

Its a 2 strand system with machines and physical paper as verification. It will make it much more difficult but as its PK, it wont eliminate it.

 

[RajBan]

Make it an online solution at one shot. If countries' political leadership can confidently boast that their financial systems and military systems are all secure, then no reason why they can't stand for online voting.

From an Indian standpoint section of the political fraternity have been avoiding this intentionally as they know that will allow a large section of the population to vote and then they will be under pressure to cater to them.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1612939/govt-to-initiate-contempt-case-if-cec-ecp-members-dont-resign

The government on Tuesday announced that it would move the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) if they did not resign from their offices.

“We are working with the Attorney General of Pakistan and if the ECP (members) does not resign, we will go for contempt of court proceedings against them,” Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said at a joint press conference with Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar.

“We believe that the ECP (CEC and members) should go itself, otherwise we have legal options,” the minister said.

Being a political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had only conveyed people’s demand to the ECP high-ups to tender resignations and gave an opportunity to the parliament to form a new commission, he said.

“The current commission is not serving the purpose for which it was created,” he said, adding that the ECP could only be credible if all political parties had faith in it.

“A disputed ECP cannot take matters forward,” he said.

The government believed that the ECP had not followed the orders of the Supreme Court to hold the recent Senate elections through the use of technology to curtail chances of rigging and ‘horse trading’.

The minister said Article 218 (3) of the Constitution clearly stated that the ECP was responsible to hold free, fair and transparent elections with no corrupt practices.

All political parties had a consensus that the ECP had failed to fulfill its responsibilities, he added.

The Supreme Court, he said, had advised the ECP to utilise technology to ensure transparent elections, with no corrupt practices, but it failed to do so.

Referring to the videos of ‘horse trading’ and ‘vote buying’ that surfaced before the Senate elections, the minister said even a common man knew very well whether the polls were transparent or not.

Earlier, addressing the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was imperative to ensure fair and transparent elections.

“From now on I will get briefing, especially on EVM, and voting of overseas Pakistanis in every cabinet meeting,” he said.

Mr Chaudhry said at the very start of the cabinet meeting the prime minister highlighted the issue of transparency in the electoral system. “PTI had two important points in its manifesto, which included accountability and transparency in elections,” he added.

The prime minister directed that electronic voting system be introduced and the cabinet be apprised of the process of introducing the voting machines every week.

He said there were some political forces which would always dispute the election process but the government wanted to ensure transparency for the satisfaction of the general public.

Replying to a query, Mr Chaudhry termed the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) a group of “political orphans”. It was ironic that Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Sherpao and others, whose parties did not have members in the national and provincial legislatures and had no stake or role in the system, were demanding resignations from assemblies, he said.

“The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party, being the major parties in the PDM, would hopefully not favour such a rash demand as they knew the consequences. If they agreed to do so, it would be important to see how many legislators followed their decision,” he added.

He said the prime minister also directed the interior ministry to introduce a comprehensive arms licensing policy in the country. “I hope it will be announced in a week’s time,” the minister added.

He said Prime Minister Khan was personally monitoring prices of daily-use commodities and all possible steps were being taken to provide relief to the common man.

He said when the PTI came to power, the economy was in a shambles but the government took all possible steps to protect the poor from the effects of inflation and price hike.

“There is good news: the Utility Stores Corporation, which was ruined during the previous governments, would come out of loss by the end of the year,” he added.

The minister said the cabinet expressed its concern over the increasing Covid-19 cases and expressed the hope that Pakistan would also handle the third phase the way it had handled the first two phases.

He said the pandemic had played havoc with the healthcare systems and economies of many developed countries, but Pakistan, due to timely action and effective policies, was successful in saving lives and livelihood of the people.

The minister said the cabinet gave approval to the proposal of appointing Raja Mazhar as the managing director of the National Book Foundation.

He said the cabinet also gave a go-ahead to end ban on issuance of prohibited and non-prohibited bore arms licences by approving a comprehensive licence policy.

He said the cabinet also discussed the issue of improper use of petroleum companies’ CSR. Now rules have been changed and the petroleum minister had been authorised to monitor the entire process of CSR utilisation.

He said the cabinet gave approval to the proposal of issuing smart cards to registered Afghan refugees, adding that the decision was part of the prime minister’s policy of providing relief to the poor people.

The cabinet was informed that 400,000 new gas connections had so far been given against the target of 600,000 set for the current fiscal year. Next year the target would be 1.2 million new gas connections.

The cabinet, he said, was also briefed on structural reforms and it was decided that in future latest audit paragraphs would come up before the Public Accounts Committee to promote timely process of parliamentary supervision and accountability.

The minister said tax exemption was granted on auto-disable syringes to prevent spread of various diseases.

Responding to a question, Mr Chaudhry said there were 66 oil marketing companies in the country but only eight firms were supplying around 92pc of the oil.

He deplored that national institutions like PIA, Pakistan Television and petroleum-sector departments were ruined during tenures of the previous governments.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1613047/pm-asks-na-speaker-to-immediately-form-inter-party-parliamentary-body-for-electoral-reforms

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday requested National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to "immediately" constitute an inter-party parliamentary committee in order to discuss electoral reforms and end the perennial issue of corrupt practices in polls.

In a letter to the speaker, the premier said this month's Senate elections had once again highlighted "the scourge of vote purchasing in the prevailing non-transparent manner of conducting elections".

On Monday, the government had shown its intention to form a bipartisan parliamentary committee under Speaker Qaiser to bring constitutional and electoral reforms in the country. The consensus on the formation of the body was reached between the speaker and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan during a meeting.

“It was agreed that equal representation would be given to members of both the opposition and the government [in the committee] for their input for electoral reforms," a statement had said following the meeting, which came a day after the government extended an olive branch to the joint opposition, inviting it to sit with it for talks on electoral reforms and asking it to cancel its planned long march.

In his letter, Prime Minister Imran said he had always demanded electoral reforms to ensure transparent, fair and free elections at all levels, recalling that ahead of the Senate elections, his party had called for open ballot to ensure transparency "given how Senate elections had achieved notoriety as being a major market for purchase of votes".

The government also introduced a bill in this regard in the National Assembly and sought the opinion of the Supreme Court, the premier said, noting that the apex court in its judgement had asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure transparent, free and fair elections and "stated that secrecy of the ballot was not 'absolute'".

"Unfortunately the ECP paid no heed to the SC judgement and failed to carry out fair and free Senate elections," he regretted.

Imran said the "malaise" of the country's existing electoral system including "the free flow of money to purchase votes" had been criticised after every election with the losers declaring the results to have been rigged.

This trend "has now begun to destroy the entire credibility of all elections in Pakistan, casting a shadow of doubt over our entire democratic process as well as the functioning of our parliamentary system", he wrote.

The prime minister noted that the government had submitted a bill for meaningful electoral reforms to remove the "prevailing stigma attached to our electoral process".

"I would request you to immediately form an inter-party parliamentary committee to discuss these reforms and come to an agreement on how to introduce best practices including the use of technology and introduction of EVMs (electronic voting machines) to strengthen our electoral system and democracy," he told Qaiser.

Imran also suggested that a definitive time frame be decided for reaching agreement on the above issues so that "enough time is given to institute the required reforms before the next general election".

"It is in the interest of democracy in Pakistan to establish a credible and transparent electoral system and put an end to all venues that allow for corrupt practices," he stressed.

During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice on March 10 which had been convened to take up the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the opposition had declared that since Babar Awan was an adviser to the prime minister, he had no capacity to move the bill as only a minister, as defined in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, had the authority to move a government bill.

The committee members were of the view that the bill should be referred to a parliamentary committee for consensus as constitutional amendments could not be carried out without the cooperation of the opposition.

Speaking at a press conference, PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi mocked Imran's decision to write the letter, alleging that a prime minister who "does not attend the parliament and does not know about its norms" had written a letter to a speaker who "is also unaware about the rules and traditions of the lower house".

"The country's problems won't be solved by two illiterates writing letters to each other," the former prime minister said.

"Who is the one writing the letter? [The one] whose government in Daska abducted 20 presiding officers and [ECP] staff," he alleged, referring to the premier.

Abbasi said if Imran thought the electoral system in the country had been ruined then he should catch the ones responsible for making it so, and cited the persons responsible for the irregularities in the Daska by-poll and for planting secret cameras in the Senate hall and election booth.

The PML-N leader also expressed scepticism about the premier's proposal for using EVMs in elections, asking: "When the data in these machines is disappeared, whom will we go to?"

He alleged that "today a new method is being devised to steal the elections in the country, and who are the ones making it? [Those] who are themselves complicit in stealing elections."

"You know what happens in the end when the wolf looks after the sheep? Today the wolf is asking to hand over the electoral system to him," Abbasi said.

He questioned how the inter-party parliamentary committee proposed in the letter could function in a parliament "which isn't functioning and has no decorum".

Abbasi lashed out at the National Assembly speaker, accusing him of obstructing members of the opposition while adopting silence on the behaviour of the treasury benches and the prime minister.

"The speaker gains the trust of the opposition with his display of neutrality. This is a speaker who doesn't let the leader of the opposition speak [in parliament]," he alleged.

"This speaker also deprived the people of Pakistan of their representatives coming in the assembly and doing their representation."

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2290141/ecp-committee-to-mull-over-use-of-technology-in-senate-polls-tomorrow

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has called a meeting of its committee formed to review possibilities of using technology in future Senate elections tomorrow (Friday).

"The meeting of the committee constituted to review the possibilities of use of technology in Senate elections and draft recommendations will be held on March 19," said a statement issued by the electoral authority on Thursday.

The meeting shall take place at the ECP secretariat, with additional secretary (admin) Manzoor Akhtar Malik in chair, the communique added.

The committee comprises Joint Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab, Lahore Saeed Gul and Director General Information Technology Khizar Aziz among others.

A day ago, March 17, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that the government was in the process of making the electoral system fully automated.

"We are working on shifting the electoral system from manual to a fully automatic one," the minister said during a media briefing held after a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair.

"It will help address the concerns of political parties in general," he added.

The minister had reiterated that Prime Minister Imran Khan was making efforts since the beginning to introduce reforms in the electoral process and make it transparent.

Last month, the minister introduced an electronic voting machine, saying it would ensure transparency and help get rid of rigging in elections. The machine was developed by the National Institute of Electronics (NIE) which comes under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1621594/whole-world-has-rejected-electronic-voting-shehbaz-rebuffs-proposal-to-use-evms-in-elections

PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan's proposal to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in general elections, saying the system had been rejected by the whole world.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Shehbaz said: "The system of electronic voting is rejected by the whole world. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared it unworkable. Such important national tasks cannot be performed at the request or order of an individual." He said that a sensitive issue such as electoral reforms could only be tackled with the "will and confidence" of the entire nation, adding: "Parliament is a manifestation of the aspirations and confidence of the people, which has been locked up for three years."

"Electoral reform is possible with the consultation of all parties, in light of public opinion and consensus-building exercises."

Shehbaz said that the PML-N had carried out "historic electoral reforms" in the consultation with all political parties, including the PTI which had been in the opposition at the time. "No one objected to these reforms in our time," he added.

That "historic document", developed with consensus of opinion, still existed today, he said. However, he added, the current opposition was insulted by creating noise of (National Reconciliation Ordinance) NRO when it had been talking about positive reforms and the economic charter.

"We can make electoral reforms only when we have the patience and courage to take our political opponents along and adopt their suggestions.

"The country's reputation is enhanced by justice, transparency and the rule of law, not by EVMs," said Shehbaz.

"Instead of focusing on electronic voting, [the govt] must worry about the ruined economy, skyrocketing inflation, unemployment and rising mortality rates," he advised. Reacting to Shehbaz's comments, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the PML-N's decision to avoid discussions on electoral reforms was "unfortunate".

"To say that the reforms are to be carried out by the ECP instead of the parliament shows that they have no understanding of the system and no interest in reforms."

He went on to question why a party, which had always assumed power through 'sazish' (scheming), wish to talk about reform.

The opposition leader's comments came a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan suggested the use of EVMs for electoral reforms.

He had invited the opposition to sit down with the government and participate in bringing electoral reforms in order to restore the credibility of local polls. In a series of tweets, the premier had said that after the recent NA-249 Karachi by-poll — won by the PPP by a narrow margin — all parties were "crying foul and claiming rigging".

"Unfortunately, no substantive reforms were put in place. Technology and the use of EVMs is the only answer to reclaim the credibility of elections. I invite the opposition to sit with us and select from EVM models we have available to restore the credibility of our elections." On Friday, the PPP had won the NA-249 by-election with a narrow margin while almost all other parties had pointed a finger at the ECP that announced the result of the low-turnout poll after considerable delay.

The result brought the main opposition PML-N and the ruling PTI at the Centre on the same page as far as the transparency of the vote count process was concerned, but the former chose not to target the PPP in the same way as the latter targeted the winning party.

However, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari advised them to furnish proof of wrongdoing in the by-election or stop levelling allegations.

The ECP on Saturday accepted PML-N leader Miftah Ismail's application for a recount in the NA-249 Karachi by-election and fixed the hearing for May 4 (Tuesday).

 

[MenInG]

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday lamented Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) “escape” from negotiations on electoral reforms, questioning “why a party that always came to power through conspiracies would talk about reforms.”

Fawad was responding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s statement where he had rejected the government’s proposal of using electronic voting machines (EVMs) during polls saying “such decisions cannot be made by one individual”. In a tweet, the information minister said the PMLN’s claim that the reform process had to be carried out by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) instead of parliament proved that they had no understanding of the system and had no interest in reforms.

“PML-N’s escape from negotiations on electoral reforms is very unfortunate. Saying that the reforms are to be done by the election commission instead of parliament shows neither they have any understanding of the system nor interest in the reforms. Why would a party that always came to power through conspiracies talk about reforms?” Fawad tweeted. Taking a dig at Fawad over this tweet, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said those who had “abducted” the staff of the election commission should spare the nation of sermons on electoral reforms.

She was referring to NA-75 Daska by-polls where the election staff at nearly two dozen polling stations had gone missing and the ECP later had to issue a statement saying “it suspected rigging in NA-75 by-election”. “Those who are a product of rigged election want to be trusted with electoral reforms. The ones who are in power today because of meddling with the RTS system have the audacity of talking about electoral reforms,” she said. “Those who opposed Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif’s IT initiatives have suddenly become advocates of tech interventions,” she added.

“The ones who have literally obliterated the system of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa over the past eight years are suddenly so anxious to reform the system. Those who preferred political victimization to electoral and economic reforms for three years are suddenly worried about reformation of the system.” She alleged that the PTI was desperate to find a way to “rig” elections after “losing every single by-election”.

 

[Bewal Express]

The mafia are worried. The Nooras feel that with ECP on their side they can rig the elections and the last thing they want is 2 point verification ie an electronic vote and a paper vote. The fact that they believe ECP should be deciding the process as well as running the election shows how much capital these crooks have vested in the ECP.

 

[MenInG]

The federal government on Monday unveiled a series of amendments to the Constitution, laws and the Election Act 2017 as part of its electoral reform agenda in order to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the future and end the controversy and allegations of rigging forever.

At a joint press conference with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry once again invited the opposition for talks, saying that legislating reform was the responsibility of parliament and not the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

“The PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] wants to introduce new technology and electronic voting machines [EVMs] which can give results in half an hour. This would help increase the trust of the people, political parties and intelligentsia in the electoral process,” Chaudhry told reporters.

On the occasion, Awan told reporters that on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, 49 changes were being made in the Election Act, 2017 by introducing or abrogating sections and making amendments to the existing sections.

Moreover, the parliamentary affairs adviser said, two constitutional amendments would be introduced in the parliament, aimed at conducting Senate elections through identifiable voting and allowing the overseas Pakistanis to contest elections in the country.

He added that civil society organisations, such as All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, bar councils, bar associations, press clubs and other relevant stakeholders would be taken on board on the electoral reforms and talks would be held with them.

At the presser, he highlighted a few sections of the Election Act, 2017 proposed for the amendments. These included Section 103, which would be amended to ensue use of the EVMs. The relevant section would also be amended for right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis.

The Section 202 about enlistment of political parties would also be amended, requiring of a political party to submit a list of at least 10,000 members with their signatures or thumb impressions along with copies of their computerised national identity cards (CNICs) and enlistment fee.

A new Section 213-A would be added to the Election Act, 2017, making it compulsory for the registered political parties to hold their annual conventions. Also, Section 15 – complaints against polling staff – would be amended to enable candidates to challenge the appointment of polling staff within 15 days.

Moreover, Awan said, future delimitations would be held on the basis of number of registered voters rather than population, while electoral rolls will be prepared on the basis of computerised national identity cards (CNICs) data of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

According to another proposed amendment, Awan said an elected member of the national or the provincial legislature would have to take oath within 60 days after election, otherwise, the seat would be declared as vacant. He said that more financial autonomy has been suggested for the ECP.

“The objective at this time is to ensure transparency in the elections. The objective of electoral reforms at present is to ensure that elections will be conducted in a fair manner and strengthen the institutions,” Awan told reporters. “This will be the first big reform in Pakistan’s history.”

Speaking on the occasion, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the government wanted to introduce modern technology in the electoral process to end the controversy of rigging forever, adding that the use of the EVMs was a means to achieve this target.

He recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan was the first captain in the international cricket who called for the introduction of neutral umpires in the game. Similarly, he added, the government wants to introduce fairness in the electoral process.

In 2018, he added that the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) claimed that Results Transmission System (RTS) failed but when they were asked to bring details of RTS failure and non-submission of Form 45 in the relevant committee, they failed to do so.

He said that after 2018 elections 25 petitions regarding rigging were filed in Punjab, out of which 13 were filed by the PTI candidates and 11 by the PML-N. In the recent Karachi by-election, Chaudhry said, the PML-N has accused the PPP of rigging.

He said the PTI tried its best for open ballot in the Senate election in March, which is part of the Charter of Democracy signed between PML-N and the PPP. In 2015, the PML-N was also in favour of open ballot in Senate elections but when Imran Khan suggested this, they took a 180-degree turn, he added.

“There was controversy on both the election of Yousuf Raza Gilani as senator and later his defeat in Senate chairman election. “If the political parties continue fighting over the election results, the country will not be able to make progress,” he said.

“Imran Khan desires that the political parties should sit together for finalisation of electoral reforms. The PTI wants to introduce new technology and electronic voting machines. This will help increase trust of the people, political parties and intelligentsia in the electoral process,” he added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote a letter to the National Assembly speaker for electoral reforms … after which the speaker wrote a letter to all the political parties, in response to which the PPP sent Naveed Qamar as focal person but the PML-N did not respond, Chaudhry said.

Responding to the PML-N’s statement that the ECP should decide about the electoral reforms, Chaudhry said that this stance was tantamount to undermining the authority of parliament. “Respect to the vote cannot be restored until parliament is respected,” he said referring to the PML-N’s slogan.

He added that PML-N top leaders including Shahbaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal, had not seen the EVMs but rejected their use. He pleaded that the scientists, who prepared the EVMs are assets of the nation and they should be encouraged for their invention.

In response to a question, Chaudhry said that the EVMs cannot be connected to the internet, therefore, there was no question of those being hacked. “These [machines] are box-like and a step ahead of paper,” he added.

The information minister said that it was a fact that the PML-N had always came to power through conspiracies but now time has come to rise above personal interests and think about the future of the country.

Responding to another question, Babar Awan said that parliament does not belong to one party but to all. He added that there are election commission offices in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and all the provinces.

 

[emranabbas]

This is only to allow overseas Pakistanis to vote. Imran khan knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on next election after such a bad performance so far so he's relying on clueless foreigners who only support him based achievements such as 1992 world cup win, shaukat khanum hospital.

 

[Majid Khan]

Politicians and their supporters who cry “it’s cheating” when they lose , will continue to do so - paper based or electronic makes little difference to them, if it’s electronic , the only difference is they will start using new words like “hack” or “cyber attack” to explain the results, blaming it on either internal “establishment” or the external global “establishment”.

 

[King-Misbah]

This is only to allow overseas Pakistanis to vote. Imran khan knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on next election after such a bad performance so far so he's relying on clueless foreigners who only support him based achievements such as 1992 world cup win, shaukat khanum hospital.

He still has 2 more years and you realise that we are in the middle of pendamic? Our economies have shrunk in the pendamic.

 

[Bewal Express]

This is only to allow overseas Pakistanis to vote. Imran khan knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on next election after such a bad performance so far so he's relying on clueless foreigners who only support him based achievements such as 1992 world cup win, shaukat khanum hospital.

Tell us who to vote for for? The crooked Sharifs or the bhais in Sindh?

 

[MenInG]

Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said electoral reforms were imperative to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in the country.

“We want to hold elections in such a manner that no one should point finger at them. The electoral reforms can only guarantee fair elections,” he said while talking to a delegation of District Bar Rawalpindi, Lahore High Court Bar Rawalpindi Bench, Punjab Bar Council and Lahore High Court Bar Multan Bench.

He said the PTI government was aware of the lawyers’ problems and wanted to resolve them on priority.
The minister maintained that the government would give loans to the legal fraternity.

The lawyers up to the age of 45 years would be given easy loans of up to Rs1 million under the Kamyab Jawan Programme for the construction of chambers, he said.

Under the Prime Minister’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, a proposal is under consideration to give loans of up to Rs6 million to the lawyers and journalists for construction of 10 marla houses, he added.

Fawad said talks had been held with Minister for Panning Asad Umar for establishing vaccination centers at high courts and sessions courts and further progress on the matter was expected in the next few days.

He said efforts would be made to provide health cards to the journalists and lawyers.

On the demand of a housing society for the lawyers of Rawalpindi Division, the minister assured the community that he would arrange their meeting with the Commissioner Rawalpindi.

The minister said the next era belonged to digitalization, modern technology and reforms, which were vital to strengthen the legal system.

Workshops would be organized to acquaint the lawyers with modern technology, he said

The lawyers praised the government’s move of introducing electoral reforms to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in the country and welcomed the decision to hold workshops for the lawyers.

Express Tribune

 

[Bewal Express]

Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said electoral reforms were imperative to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in the country.

“We want to hold elections in such a manner that no one should point finger at them. The electoral reforms can only guarantee fair elections,” he said while talking to a delegation of District Bar Rawalpindi, Lahore High Court Bar Rawalpindi Bench, Punjab Bar Council and Lahore High Court Bar Multan Bench.

He said the PTI government was aware of the lawyers’ problems and wanted to resolve them on priority.
The minister maintained that the government would give loans to the legal fraternity.

The lawyers up to the age of 45 years would be given easy loans of up to Rs1 million under the Kamyab Jawan Programme for the construction of chambers, he said.

Under the Prime Minister’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, a proposal is under consideration to give loans of up to Rs6 million to the lawyers and journalists for construction of 10 marla houses, he added.

Fawad said talks had been held with Minister for Panning Asad Umar for establishing vaccination centers at high courts and sessions courts and further progress on the matter was expected in the next few days.

He said efforts would be made to provide health cards to the journalists and lawyers.

On the demand of a housing society for the lawyers of Rawalpindi Division, the minister assured the community that he would arrange their meeting with the Commissioner Rawalpindi.

The minister said the next era belonged to digitalization, modern technology and reforms, which were vital to strengthen the legal system.

Workshops would be organized to acquaint the lawyers with modern technology, he said

The lawyers praised the government’s move of introducing electoral reforms to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in the country and welcomed the decision to hold workshops for the lawyers.

Express Tribune

Most lawyers are thugs and shoud be given sweet FA by the govt. The govt needs to take on these thugs and not give them freebies

 

[Mamoon]

This is only to allow overseas Pakistanis to vote. Imran khan knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on next election after such a bad performance so far so he's relying on clueless foreigners who only support him based achievements such as 1992 world cup win, shaukat khanum hospital.

Totally agree with you.

 

[Bewal Express]

Totally agree with you.

Tell me wise one, without the money of the overseas PKs, what would the rate of the Rp depreciate to? Tell me Why they shouldnt have representation because without their 29bn where would you be with only your 23bn exports? Another clueless idiotic post.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Saturday said it rejects the government's "one-sided" electoral reforms, which include the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and announced a fresh wave of anti-government protests.

"PDM rejects the government's unilateral electoral reforms ordinance, including the voting machines, and terms it as pre-poll rigging," PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, as he addressed a press conference alongside PDM leaders.

In this regard, the Election Commission of Pakistan — which is responsible for holding transparent elections — should call a meeting of all political parties to take a unanimous decision on reforms, he said.

The PDM chief said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal, attended the alliance's meeting via video, while other Opposition party leaders were present in person.

PDM to initiate legal proceedings against govt

Fazlur Rehman said PDM has decided to begin legal proceedings against the PTI-led government's "unlawful acts", for which, a legal team will be formed, with PML-N's Azam Nazeer Tarar as its convener and JUI-F's Kamran Murtaza as the co-convener.

He said the alliance decided a future course of action, and on July 4, a massive anti-government protest will be held in Swat, followed by another one in Karachi on July 29.

Thereafter, on the occasion of August 14, independence day, a massive protest will be held in Islamabad, with PDM showing solidarity to Kashmiris and Palestinians.

PML-N will also host a budget seminar soon to form a unified strategy during the government's budget session in the parliament, while the task to hold the event has been given to PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, Fazlur Rehman said.

Concerns over regional situation
He said that the PDM leaders, during the meeting, expressed concerns over the tumultuous events transpiring in the region.

"Our government is not elected, and the government that does not have the backing of the people does not have the capability to face any challenge," he said.

PDM demands that in light of the situation prevailing in the region and Afghanistan, a joint session of the parliament be called to discuss the foreign and defence policies, he said.

The PDM chief said the relevant officials overseeing the policies should brief the house over the developments in the Afghan peace process and other related matters.

"Government officials should especially address speculations that Pakistan is offering airspace to American planes," Fazl said.

The PDM meeting furthermore strongly condemned attacks on journalists and expressed its solidarity with them, he said.

A delegation of the anti-government alliance will also visit the residence of the journalists — Asad Ali Toor and Absar Alam — Fazl said.

Fazlur Rehman accused the government of taking over the citizens' lawfully owned lands to benefit some people. "PDM stands with the people and will never let them feel alone in these stressful times."

Fazl on PPP, ANP
The PDM chief, responding to a question, said PPP and ANP were not discussed during the meeting, as they are no longer a part of the alliance.

"They can still contact the PDM leadership and apprise them about their intentions. But it is not something that we will waste time over anymore during PDM meetings," he said.

Nawaz, Fazl on same page
Meanwhile, taking over the presser, PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz said her father, Nawaz Sharif, had taken the same position as Fazlur Rehman had taken today.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary on Saturday again urged the opposition parties to talk with the government on the issue of electoral reforms.

He added that leaders from the other side of the aisle should talk if they are serious about reforms rather than squabbling in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

“Shehbaz Sharif should first focus on uniting the PML-N instead of uniting the opposition,” the minister said on Twitter.

On May 27, it was reported that the gulf within the PDM is widening as enfeebled efforts by PML-N leader Shehbaz to piece together the fragmented opposition alliance continue to fail.

Sources told The Express Tribune that despite the ongoing attempts at reconciliation, PPP’s return to the multiparty alliance has become even more difficult in the light of recent strong statements made by PML-N leaders Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Sources close to PDM said that in the wake of deepening fissures, a meeting has been scheduled on May 29 (today) to discuss the strategy to bring PPP and ANP back to the alliance.

However, due to the mounting tensions between the leaders of PPP and PML-N, the chances of its success are slim, sources said.

The turmoil between PPP and PML-N had deepened when PDM issued an “explanation letter” to the PPP and the ANP and five opposition parties formed a separate bloc of 27 senators in the upper house.

Resultantly, the PPP and the ANP parted ways with the PDM by submitting their leaders’ resignations from all posts of the 10-party anti-government alliance which was formed in September 2020 to oust the government and curtail the role of the establishment in politics.

“The PML-N expects PPP to re-join the alliance on a condition [to respond to the show cause notice], while the PPP is adamant on an unconditional return and does not want to be held accountable for anything,” the sources said, adding, “the tense situation has become a political quandary for Maulana Fazlur Rehman who has now sought the recommendations of other parties to come up with a better strategy.”

Express Tribune

 

[OMB]

Next elections to be contested under new mechanism, says Fawad Chaudhry

Shibli Faraz to hold practical demonstration of electronic voting machines this week, says Fawad Chaudhry.

We promised to give the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis, says Chaudhry.

Elections are rigged through returning officers as they are from the same constituency they serve in, says Babar Awan.

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said the upcoming general elections will be fought "under a new mechanism", announcing that the government had completed all arrangements related to using electronic voting machines (EVMs).

ECP to get electronic voting technology soon: Fawad Chaudhry
"We had promised to provide overseas Pakistanis with the right to vote," said Chaudhry. "Shibli Faraz will hold a practical demonstration of the EVM at the election commission office this week.

The minister said that the government has made it clear to the ECP that it will provide the institution all the support and help it needs to conduct voting on electronic machines.

"General Elections 2023 will be contested under a new mechanism," he said.

Speaking outside the ECP office, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said the commission had enacted roles but no law existed on electronic voting.

"We introduced an ordinance for this [electronic voting]," he said. "General Elections 2023 will be contested on electronic voting," vowed the prime minister's adviser.

Awan said the government would take the ordinance on electronic voting into Parliament. He clarified the government "will not be strict on the matter" of electoral reforms.

The former PPP leader said elections are rigged through returning officers as they are from the same constituency they serve in.

Awan said that in the electoral reforms, the government planned to change this stipulation pertaining to the returning officers.

Electronic voting will allow over 7 million overseas Pakistanis to vote: Shibli Faraz
Earlier, Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz had said the introduction of electronic voting in Pakistan will eliminate manipulation, and that the system will enable more than seven million overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes.

Speaking during a press conference in Peshawar, the minister said that free and transparent elections are only possible with electronic voting machines (EVMs), therefore, the ECP has to accept it.

Faraz added that PM Khan strongly desires free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in the country and that was why Electronic Voting Machines was introduced so that overseas Pakistan could be given the right of votes, thus enabling them to participate in the country’s decision-making processes and ensuring rigging-free polls.

The minister had also said that a law has been promulgated authorising and binding the ECP to procure EVMs as well as enabling overseas Pakistanis to exercise their right to vote while staying in their country of residence in the next general elections.

To discourage horse-trading and massive use of money during elections, Faraz said the government had offered the Opposition to conduct the last Senate elections through a show of hands instead of secret balloting, but the move was rejected due to the Opposition's "ill intension."

Shehbaz rejects EVMs proposal
PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif had turned down the government's proposal to use electronic voting machines in the next general elections.

"The electronic voting system has been declared a failure by the entire world," the former Punjab chief minister had said a month earlier, adding that electoral reforms are undertaken with consultations of all key stakeholders, the public's opinion and by developing a consensus.

He had said the PML-N had undertaken electoral reforms in 2018 via consultations with all political parties in the country, including the PTI. "No one had any reservations with the electoral reforms undertaken during our era," he had said.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/353900-next-elections-to-be-contested-under-new-mechanism-says-fawad-chaudhry

 

[moghul]

Apparent EVM can be hacked. Ask Indian opposition.

Yes, lets stop using all the computer related technology for the same wisdom. Stop producing vehicles to prevent road accidents, lets go back to horses and camels, why not.

 

[moghul]

This is only to allow overseas Pakistanis to vote. Imran khan knows he doesn't have a leg to stand on next election after such a bad performance so far so he's relying on clueless foreigners who only support him based achievements such as 1992 world cup win, shaukat khanum hospital.

People brought up in the culture of corruption will always find a way to oppose any reforms to curb corruption and fraud. Only time will tell what happens in next election but why not support any effort to improve the transparency. What's wrong if qualified overseas Pakistanis are able to vote.

There is a reason why the most educated and patriotic Pakistanis support Imran Khan. They think about Pakistan only , not looking for their person interest at the cost of future of Pakistan.

 

[Bewal Express]

People brought up in the culture of corruption will always find a way to oppose any reforms to curb corruption and fraud. Only time will tell what happens in next election but why not support any effort to improve the transparency. What's wrong if qualified overseas Pakistanis are able to vote.

There is a reason why the most educated and patriotic Pakistanis support Imran Khan. They think about Pakistan only , not looking for their person interest at the cost of future of Pakistan.

These guys have no rational basis for opposing for allowing Overseas Pks to vote, they are worried that educated PKs who are not brain washed into immorality and corruption as they are, might challenge their power to lord it over the poor. We get nothing from PK but still we send billions each year.

 

[MenInG]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday formally expressed its reservations over the Elections Act (Amendment) Bill 2020.

The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2020 was introduced in the National Assembly on October 16, 2020 and was cleared by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Parliamentary Affairs on June 8 amid the opposition’s protest.

According to Express, in a letter written to the secretary of parliamentary affairs, the ECP expressed its apprehension over the amendment of several clauses, including of constituencies and electoral rolls.

"Matter is to be brought in the notice of Prime Minister Imran Khan before introducing the bill in the Senate," the letter stated further opposing the inclusion of the word 'open ballot' instead of 'secret ballot'.

The letter also stated that adding the word 'open ballot' was a violation of Article 226 of the Constitution.

"The Supreme Court has given a clear opinion in this regard in a case related to the presidential reference. If the bill is implemented, the powers of the Election Commission may be limited," the letter added.

According to Express, the commission had sent a letter to the secretary of parliamentary affairs on June 17 expressing their reservations

 

[Bewal Express]

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday formally expressed its reservations over the Elections Act (Amendment) Bill 2020.

The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2020 was introduced in the National Assembly on October 16, 2020 and was cleared by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Parliamentary Affairs on June 8 amid the opposition’s protest.

According to Express, in a letter written to the secretary of parliamentary affairs, the ECP expressed its apprehension over the amendment of several clauses, including of constituencies and electoral rolls.

"Matter is to be brought in the notice of Prime Minister Imran Khan before introducing the bill in the Senate," the letter stated further opposing the inclusion of the word 'open ballot' instead of 'secret ballot'.

The letter also stated that adding the word 'open ballot' was a violation of Article 226 of the Constitution.

"The Supreme Court has given a clear opinion in this regard in a case related to the presidential reference. If the bill is implemented, the powers of the Election Commission may be limited," the letter added.

According to Express, the commission had sent a letter to the secretary of parliamentary affairs on June 17 expressing their reservations

The ECP is a stooge of the mafia. It has always failed to hold free and fair elections and its job as mandated by NS and AZ is to hold the status quo so that mafia can get back in.

 

[OMB]

Very late to be introducing EVM's. At least it saves time.

In India, the EVM are either "suspected malfunctioning machines" or "wonder machines" depending upon whether you have lost or won the elections.

 

[Major]

Electronic voting machines can't be hacked, says Science and Tech minister Shibli Faraz

Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz said on Wednesday that electronic voting machines (EVMs) could not be hacked and were the best solution to problems of rigging during polls.

Addressing a media briefing at Parliament House in Islamabad, where the government had scheduled a demonstration of EVMs for lawmakers, the science minister assured everyone that the machines "couldn't be hacked or riddled with bugs" since they were not connected to the internet, dependent on mechanisms such as Bluetooth, WiFi or an operating system.

He hailed EVMs as the solution to rigging during and after elections. Through electronic voting, Faraz added, elections would be transparent and their results immediate and trustable.

The science minister called upon lawmakers to come and test out the EVM on display to satisfy themselves.

He said it was up to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide whether the machines fulfilled the requirements, adding that the ECP was the only constitutional institution that could approve or reject them.

"We are coordinating with the ECP. Before or immediately after Muharram [we will demonstrate EVMs to the ECP], obviously it's the biggest stakeholder," he said.

He added that the government had tried to incorporate all the requirements of the ECP into the EVMs.

Responding to a number of questions on how EVMs functioned, Faraz said repeated votes were not possible, adding that EVMs were not connected with the National Database and Registration Authority.

He emphasised that voters would continue to be unidentifiable and that votes would not be verified through thumb impressions but voter lists instead.

"The machine will only decide the process of entering the vote," he explained.

Faraz said three per cent of votes or a total of 1.8 million votes were wasted from all over the country during general elections and margins of victory often came down to one or two votes. EVMs would eliminate this waste, he said.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser took to Twitter after testing the EVM out for himself, saying that technological advancements were "pivotal" to ensure transparency in the electoral process and strengthen democracy.

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan himself received a detailed presentation and a demonstration of a new locally made EVM.

Talking to Dawn after the briefing held at the Prime Minister House, Faraz had said that the machine had been developed keeping in mind ground realities and in accordance with the specifications of the ECP, which had previously rejected the use of EVMs on technical grounds.

According to the minister, the new EVM was simple and user-friendly for voters as well as the polling staff and it would eliminate chances of rigging as it could not be bugged or hacked as it would have no operating system and would not be connected to the internet.

The ruling PTI has been pursuing the issue of the use of EVMs since the 2013 general elections. A prototype had first been shown off at Parliament House in May.

Earlier in May, the prime minister had invited the opposition to sit down with the government and participate in bringing electoral reforms such as the use of EVMs in order to restore the credibility of local polls.

In a series of tweets, the premier had said that after the NA-249 Karachi by-poll, all parties were "crying foul and claiming rigging".

"Technology and the use of EVMs is the only answer to reclaim the credibility of elections. I invite the opposition to sit with us and select from EVM models we have available to restore the credibility of our elections," he had tweeted.

Source: Dawn

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1484862031898148

 

[Major]

This is an example of why we are a joke of a country. This statement is coming from the Science and Technology Minister.

It runs without an Operating System

 

[Bewal Express]

The mafia are scared of the EVMs and will do anything to block them so that when they lose they can claim dhandli.

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, seeking his opinion over the appointment of provincial members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to the Leader of the Opposition for the vacant posts of members in the Election Commission of Pakistan in accordance with Articles 213 and 218 of the Constitution,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in a tweet while sharing a copy of the letter.

Fawad added that PM Imran had suggested three names for each vacant ECP post in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkwa (K-P).

The appointments on vacant posts can be made after the opposition’s opinion on the matter, he added.

The prime minister has proposed the names of Ahsan Mahboob, ex-officer of the Police Service of Pakistan; Raja Amer Khan, advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan; and Dr Syed Pervaiz Abbas, a retired officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) for the vacant ECP post in Punjab.

For the appointment of the ECP member from K-P, the names of retired Justice Ikramullah Khan; Faridullah Khan, ex-officer PAS; and Muzammil Khan, advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan had been proposed, the premier’s letter stated.

According to the Constitution, the ECP members are to be appointed within 45 days of the retirement of the incumbent member.

PM Imran and the opposition leader hold consultations after the failure of which the matter is sent to the parliamentary committee.

Last month, the information minister dispelled the impression that there is a deadlock between the government and the opposition on the question of the appointment of provincial members of the ECP, claiming that the "government is open to dialogue".

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2317386/pm-imran-reaches-out-to-shehbaz-over-ecp-appointments

 

[MenInG]

Hours after Senate Parliamentary Affairs Committee rejected a proposal regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting in the next general elections, the federal government on Friday decided to call a joint session of parliament on the electoral reforms on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, who was flanked by Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Senate committee member and Railways Minister Azam Swati, said that after the joint session of parliament, a session of National Assembly will also be called to debate over the issue.

"Opposition has not presented a single suggestion over the electoral reforms and has wasted two months," he added.

Awan said that he was only allowed to discuss five points out of the 37 objections raised by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to the proposed introduction of EVMs.

"A member from Balochistan who had joined the session via video link was denied right to vote as she was not physically present during the session," he added.

He alleged that the opposition was against giving the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis as it fears that it will increase the vote bank of Prime Minister Imran Khan. "Today the real face of opposition was revealed and their real motive is there for everyone to see," he added.

On the occasion, Fawad Chaudhry alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner had become a "mouthpiece" of the opposition parties. "ECP's reasoning [over the EVM issue] is illogical. ECP cannot make laws... it is the job of the parliament... the behaviour of such an important institution is unfortunate," he said and added that it seemed that ECP had become a "headquarter" of the opposition.

The minister alleged that the CEC had been in close contact with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and could have sympathy with him in a personal capacity.

Fawad said that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wanted reforms in the electoral system in Pakistan because whenever a party losses, it says that the elections were rigged and no one is satisfied with the results.

He said that the government had suggested the use of technology as the Supreme Court had also suggested doing so. The information minister said ECP or any other institute must follow the parliament.

Lashing out at the opposition, he said that the opposition only thinks about the cases and tries to politicise every issue. Fawad said that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is “doing a great job” exposing members of the opposition.

"They (opposition) are throwing mud at each other... we don't have to do anything... even members of PML-N are talking against each other," he added.

Fawad said that if the ECP had any reservation regarding the use of technology during the general election then it should bring it to the government rather than taking the issue to the media. "CEC's job is not politics. If he wants to do politics then run for an election and get elected if he can," he added.

He further advised the CEC to behave like a head of a very critical institution of the country.

 

[MenInG]

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said that the 2023 general election would be based on and possible only after electoral reforms, adding that "there is no other way [possible] except this."

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz, he said the government wanted to take the opposition into confidence regarding electoral reforms. "We think those elections will be better in which the government and the opposition are on the same platform," Chaudhry said.

However, he said, if the opposition refused to move beyond the cases against it then "we will be forced".

"We can't leave everything and go for the 2028 [general election]. The 2023 general elections will be based on and only possible after reforms — there is no other way [possible] except this," the information minister said.

Faraz too echoed his colleague, saying, "our leader's commitment tells that 2023 elections [will happen based on reforms] whether anyone likes it or not."

He said the opposition had opposed electronic voting machines (EVMs) without "bothering to understand them" despite Prime Minister Imran Khan's offer to sit together on electoral reforms and the government's offers to come and inspect EVMs for themselves.

The information minister added that the opposition leaders were "only interested in their cases" and brought the matter up whenever the government raised any issue with them. He said they had to face their cases themselves and it was a matter between them and the courts.

"We can not hold their hands. [Regarding electoral] reforms, the serious people among them should step forward and make their leadership realise that reforms are necessary for the next elections."

Chaudhry also criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) report on EVMs that was submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and had 37 objections.

He claimed that in the ECP's report, "the data in favour of EVMs vanished and it was taken out. Such objections were made which show that they had already decided to submit a report against EVMs".

The information minister said the removed data included information from other countries and their positive experiences with EVMs such as the Philippines, Estonia and the Dominican Republic.

He also said pilot projects had been conducted in Chakwal and Peshawar "whose testimonials are in front of you and all people said the elections were very fair".

Regarding the 37 objections raised by the ECP, Chaudhry said only 10 were related to EVMs.

"The problem is that the chief election commissioner (CEC) appears to be speaking the language of the opposition [...] this does not happen. Every institution has a character [...] the way a movement is being run to discredit EVMs and the way positive material was excluded, it clearly shows the CEC is opposed for some reason to the reforms that the government wants to bring.

"No one [has trust] on the ECP. All of the elections that the CEC carried out have been controversial," the information minister claimed. He called upon other ECP members to step forward and review the CEC's decisions.

Chaudhry said the CEC should distance himself from "conflicts" since "the activities he is currently doing are in unbecoming of his position".

Adding to the information minister's criticism, Faraz said when the 37 objections were analysed, "it was clear that 27 points were a charge-sheet against the ECP itself and highlighted its incapacity. The 10 points on the technical side relating to EVMs had no link to the machine because they did not even bother to look at the machine and see whether the present prototype resolves the points they are mentioning."

Challenging the objections, the science and technology minister said the prototype had 100 per cent ballot secrecy, guaranteed voter anonymity and complete transparency, among other security features.

He emphasised that the government's purpose was not to use that specific machine and that the ECP could choose to use it or not. The broader concept, Faraz said, was the use of technology to resolve problems of political crises as had been witnessed in previous elections.

Faraz alleged that the ECP was not interested or had the intention to carry out electoral reforms which was "very concerning". He said the ECP would have to show its seriousness in working, increasing its capacity and playing its part in technological incorporation.

'Exhibiting restraint'
The information minister said the Supreme Court's order to use technology in the Senate Elections had been violated by not using it and the government could pursue a contempt case against the CEC but "we are exhibiting great restraint whereas the ECP sent a notice" — apparently referring to the notices sent to him and Railways Minister Azam Swati by the ECP over their comments about the institution.

"The CEC will have to seriously reflect on his behaviour. We are exhibiting restraint till now. The federal cabinet has till now tolerated the election commissioner with bravery and we have not taken action on the personal attacks that have been made," he said.

DAWN

 

[OMB]

Opposition against EVMs for 'vested interests': PM Imran

Premier says nobody will remember 'frequent changes' in Punjab because of govt's performance

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday reiterated his government's resolve to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) to put an end to chronic allegations of rigging surrounding elections in the country but said certain people with "vested interests" were opposed to the reforms.

Addressing the signing ceremony of Performance Agreements with federal ministers in Islamabad, the premier said EVMs would not benefit the government in any way as the only purpose of introducing these machines was to make the polls transparent.

The document launched today has a total of 1,090 initiatives and targets for all ministries, including 426 to be completed in 2021-22; 488 in 2022-23, and 176 running initiatives, supplementing the overall delivery of ministries across two years, and beyond.


According to Imran, since 1970 everyone who has suffered defeat in an election has cried foul. "The EVMs will end such controversies," the PM said, adding that even the elections in the Senate, which has 1,500 votes, have become controversial.

He claimed that the people who benefit from the "corrupt system" were opposing the EVMs for their vested interests.

"These are people who do not want change in Pakistan for their vested interests and they are our [government's] enemies," he added.

Speaking about the performance of the government, the prime minister said that the first year in power was about survival while in the second year, the government had to take tackle the coronavirus pandemic and economic challenges.

Referring to Covid-19, Imran said the government has not taken due credit for the way it has handled the pandemic and kept the economy running.

"The third year in power has now provided us with the opportunity to work hard and achieve targets set by the government," Imran stated, adding that the PTI government would again return to power on the basis of its performance.

Read Punjab gets 7th police chief in three years

Speaking about the performance of the provinces, the premier said the real battle is for Punjab now, as the people have been complaining about "frequent changes" in the province's administration.

He maintained that people will not remember the changes but would remember better governance.

"If we achieve these targets, our coalition government will emerge stronger," he added.

The premier also urged his ministers to excel at quarterly targets set by their ministries, adding that the more they struggle, the more they would achieve. He further told them never to compromise on their vision and always move forward instead of backing down.

Imran added the government should not fret about difficult circumstances because patience in adversity teaches capacity building.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2321349/opposition-against-evms-for-vested-interests-pm-imran

 

[srh]

No need for EVMs in elections. Just count the votes honestly.

Imran Khan needs to focus on real issues. The poor and middle class are barely surviving.

 

[Bewal Express]

No need for EVMs in elections. Just count the votes honestly.

Imran Khan needs to focus on real issues. The poor and middle class are barely surviving.

But every election is claimed to be rigged by the losers. The EVMS would at least make it more difficult and from the rona dona of the opposition, you know they are worried about not getting the 20,000 votes head start. If the opposition were honest in reforming they would have come up with some proposals, but alas they are kacking their pants at the fear of reform.

 

[srh]

But every election is claimed to be rigged by the losers. The EVMS would at least make it more difficult and from the rona dona of the opposition, you know they are worried about not getting the 20,000 votes head start. If the opposition were honest in reforming they would have come up with some proposals, but alas they are kacking their pants at the fear of reform.

I just think EVMs is not a reform, in fact it is a burden on economy. Canada tried EVMs in 1 election then scrap it. When even a rich country like Canada thinks it is waste of money then there is no point for a poor country like Pakistan to consider it as necessary. Only thing Pakistan needs is honesty in these matters. Count the votes honestly at each polling station with representatives of each party present. Then announce it there on spot to media.

 

[Bewal Express]

I just think EVMs is not a reform, in fact it is a burden on economy. Canada tried EVMs in 1 election then scrap it. When even a rich country like Canada thinks it is waste of money then there is no point for a poor country like Pakistan to consider it as necessary. Only thing Pakistan needs is honesty in these matters. Count the votes honestly at each polling station with representatives of each party present. Then announce it there on spot to media.

They have all what you say and every election is controversial. The EVMs may be costly but if they stop the blatant rigging by Nooras and PP, they are worth it. They won't solve everything but they will prevent the most obvious abuses.

 

[MenInG]

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said that the electoral reforms were a part of the national agenda and not of a particular individual or party.

The minister took to his official Twitter handle to state that electoral reforms were not “the agenda of Imran Khan or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf [PTI],” but were a national agenda.

Fawad maintained that all political parties should move forward towards electoral reforms.

“It will be a great success for our political system if an electoral system is set up under which all the leaders are able to trust election results,” he said.

Earlier this month Fawad confirmed in a post-cabinet meeting press briefing that Prime Minister Imran Khan had sought the support of PTI's allies for electoral reforms, which included the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and giving roughly nine million overseas Pakistanis the right to vote in the next general elections.

“We [the government] presented 49-point electoral reform idea before the allies,” the minister said, adding that further briefings would be given to the coalition partners in this regard. “We have sought their support for the electoral reforms agenda and they have graciously agreed,” he said.

However, earlier this week three of the allies had expressed reservations about recognising the EVM bill, during a meeting the government had convened to take on board its coalition partners over the electoral reforms.

Sources that attended the meeting, on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the PML-Q, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and MQM-P had raised concerns with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz over the legislation on the use of EVMs.

They mentioned that PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema said the party could not support the bill until it consulted its leadership.

On Saturday, the party also indicated that it will go against the ruling PTI over mistreatment of its workers in Punjab and for not being included in the decision-making process.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2329411/fawad-says-electoral-reforms-national-agenda-not-only-ptis

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD:
The Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) appeared uncertain on Thursday whether the electronic voting machines (EVMs) could be used in the coming general election, a day after the joint sitting of parliament passed the bill for their use.

During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice the ECP secretary was bombarded with questions regarding the use of EVMs. During the meeting, chaired by Riaz Fatyana, treasury lawmakers insisted on the use of the EVMs, while the opposition members supported the ECP’s point of view.

The members raised the questions as to how the people of Balochistan would use the EVM to cast their votes in areas where there was no internet. They also asked where the EVMs would be kept. Some members even posed the question to the ECP as to who would be blamed for any possible tampering with votes afterwards.

The ECP secretary told the committee that there were challenges in the use of EVMs, adding that it would be premature to say whether the machines could be used in the next general election. He told the lawmakers that the ECP was working on the concerns regarding Balochistan.

“I can’t answer all your questions at this time,” the ECP secretary told the committee. “There are challenges in using the EVMs,” he said. “There will be 3 to 4 more pilot projects related to the use of EVMs. It is yet to be determined how many EVMs would be required at one polling station.”

Read: Imran sees EVMs as panacea to all poll ills

The National Assembly members belonging to the government side insisted that Parliament was supreme and the ECP prepare to implement the law passed by the joint sitting without any delay. However, the opposition members supported the ECP’s concerns.

The secretary the members of the standing committee that before using the EVMs in the next general election, the ECP would have to go through various stages, including purchase of machine and training of staff.

ECP sources said that the minimum cost of using EVMs would be Rs150 billion. However, they added that despite spending that much money, the transparency and credibility of the election could be doubted because the machine and software could easily be replaced or temper with.

The sources also raised concerns about the machine transfer and safety, adding that educating voters about the technology would also be a barrier. They further said that the procurement of large-scale EVMs was also a difficult task.

Bar tenures

While disposing other agenda items, the committee unanimously recommended that the tenure of the office-bearers of all the bar associations of the country, except the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), should be enhanced to two years from the current one-year period.

The committee also recommended that campaigning for the bar elections should be restricted to two months before the elections, which should be held in the month of December while the new office-bearers assume their responsibilities on January 1.

The meeting considered several bills, including those relating to the tenures and election procedures of the bar associations. The meeting was informed that no adequate response had been received from the bars regarding the tenure and the election procedure.

While discussing the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section 5 and schedule), moved by Nafeesa Shah, the committee heard that the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) had categorically supported the bill. Shah requested the committee to pass the bill.

The committee approved the recommendation for enhancement of one seat in the SBC for the Khairpur District. And keeping in view the, consensus of all the members, the committee recommended that the amendment bill should be passed by the assembly.

Similarly, while considering the Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section 5), the committee was informed by the mover that the K-P Bar Council supported the bill. However, the committee deferred the bill till its next meeting, as no written comments had been received.

The committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 51 and 106) moved by Zahid Durrani. The ECP opposed the bill, saying that the government was holding fresh census, adding that the grievance of the mover would be addressed after delimitation that would follow the new census.

Law Ministry officials said after the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the grievances had already been redressed under Article 51 and 106 of the Constitution. The committee unanimously recommended that the bill should not be passed.

The committee deferred the Superior Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Section 2 Act XXXIII of 199) moved by Qadir Khan Mandokhail and discussion on recruitment of high courts judges till its next meeting.

The committee constituted a sub-committee, headed by Mehmood Bashir Virk and comprising Shunila Ruth, Kishwer Zehra, and Aliya Kamran to draft proposals regarding judicial reforms with specific reference to procedure for induction of judges and the number of judges in superior judiciary.

The subcommittee would submit its report within 30 days. The committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article-1, 51 and 106) and recommended that the bill should not be passed by the National Assembly.

Other bills, which were deferred till the next meeting, included the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 239) and the Legal Aid & Justice Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020, (Section 2, 6 & 9A), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article 11-A), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 59), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 156) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021(Article 27) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 59).

The meeting was attended by Lal Chand, Farooq Azam Malik, Kishwar Zehra, Junaid Akbar, Shunila Ruth, Mehmood Bashir Virk, Usman Ibraheem, Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Nafeesa Shah, Aliya Kamran, Sher Akbar Khan, Zahid Akram Durrani, Uzma Riaz and Naveed Aamir Jeva.

Secretaries of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Human Rights and the Election Commission of Pakistan along with relevant official also attended the meeting.

 

[Bewal Express]

ISLAMABAD:
The Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) appeared uncertain on Thursday whether the electronic voting machines (EVMs) could be used in the coming general election, a day after the joint sitting of parliament passed the bill for their use.

During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice the ECP secretary was bombarded with questions regarding the use of EVMs. During the meeting, chaired by Riaz Fatyana, treasury lawmakers insisted on the use of the EVMs, while the opposition members supported the ECP’s point of view.

The members raised the questions as to how the people of Balochistan would use the EVM to cast their votes in areas where there was no internet. They also asked where the EVMs would be kept. Some members even posed the question to the ECP as to who would be blamed for any possible tampering with votes afterwards.

The ECP secretary told the committee that there were challenges in the use of EVMs, adding that it would be premature to say whether the machines could be used in the next general election. He told the lawmakers that the ECP was working on the concerns regarding Balochistan.

“I can’t answer all your questions at this time,” the ECP secretary told the committee. “There are challenges in using the EVMs,” he said. “There will be 3 to 4 more pilot projects related to the use of EVMs. It is yet to be determined how many EVMs would be required at one polling station.”

Read: Imran sees EVMs as panacea to all poll ills

The National Assembly members belonging to the government side insisted that Parliament was supreme and the ECP prepare to implement the law passed by the joint sitting without any delay. However, the opposition members supported the ECP’s concerns.

The secretary the members of the standing committee that before using the EVMs in the next general election, the ECP would have to go through various stages, including purchase of machine and training of staff.

ECP sources said that the minimum cost of using EVMs would be Rs150 billion. However, they added that despite spending that much money, the transparency and credibility of the election could be doubted because the machine and software could easily be replaced or temper with.

The sources also raised concerns about the machine transfer and safety, adding that educating voters about the technology would also be a barrier. They further said that the procurement of large-scale EVMs was also a difficult task.

Bar tenures

While disposing other agenda items, the committee unanimously recommended that the tenure of the office-bearers of all the bar associations of the country, except the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), should be enhanced to two years from the current one-year period.

The committee also recommended that campaigning for the bar elections should be restricted to two months before the elections, which should be held in the month of December while the new office-bearers assume their responsibilities on January 1.

The meeting considered several bills, including those relating to the tenures and election procedures of the bar associations. The meeting was informed that no adequate response had been received from the bars regarding the tenure and the election procedure.

While discussing the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section 5 and schedule), moved by Nafeesa Shah, the committee heard that the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) had categorically supported the bill. Shah requested the committee to pass the bill.

The committee approved the recommendation for enhancement of one seat in the SBC for the Khairpur District. And keeping in view the, consensus of all the members, the committee recommended that the amendment bill should be passed by the assembly.

Similarly, while considering the Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section 5), the committee was informed by the mover that the K-P Bar Council supported the bill. However, the committee deferred the bill till its next meeting, as no written comments had been received.

The committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 51 and 106) moved by Zahid Durrani. The ECP opposed the bill, saying that the government was holding fresh census, adding that the grievance of the mover would be addressed after delimitation that would follow the new census.

Law Ministry officials said after the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the grievances had already been redressed under Article 51 and 106 of the Constitution. The committee unanimously recommended that the bill should not be passed.

The committee deferred the Superior Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Section 2 Act XXXIII of 199) moved by Qadir Khan Mandokhail and discussion on recruitment of high courts judges till its next meeting.

The committee constituted a sub-committee, headed by Mehmood Bashir Virk and comprising Shunila Ruth, Kishwer Zehra, and Aliya Kamran to draft proposals regarding judicial reforms with specific reference to procedure for induction of judges and the number of judges in superior judiciary.

The subcommittee would submit its report within 30 days. The committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article-1, 51 and 106) and recommended that the bill should not be passed by the National Assembly.

Other bills, which were deferred till the next meeting, included the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 239) and the Legal Aid & Justice Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020, (Section 2, 6 & 9A), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article 11-A), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 59), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 156) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021(Article 27) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 59).

The meeting was attended by Lal Chand, Farooq Azam Malik, Kishwar Zehra, Junaid Akbar, Shunila Ruth, Mehmood Bashir Virk, Usman Ibraheem, Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Nafeesa Shah, Aliya Kamran, Sher Akbar Khan, Zahid Akram Durrani, Uzma Riaz and Naveed Aamir Jeva.

Secretaries of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of Human Rights and the Election Commission of Pakistan along with relevant official also attended the meeting.

The ECP is all in with the mafia. It had done everything to toe the mafia line. The govt must move the SC very quickly and get the law enforced.

 

[Savak]

Is there any way the likes of the PPP, PML N and other opposition parties look to rig the EVMs? Is it possible?

 

[Hasan]

An educated overseas Pakistani with economic independence is a more desirable political agent compared to an impoverished Pakistani in Pakistan living under a feudal system.

Also overseas Pakistani are vital to the economy and therefore they ought to have a say in the politics of their home nation.

Great move by IK and Pakistan will benefit as a result.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2333580/punjab-makes-evms-mandatory-for-local-govt-polls

The Punjab government has decided to make electronic voting machines (EVMs) mandatory for the upcoming local government elections across the province.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar approved amendments to the Local Bodies Act to make the EVMs compulsory for voting in the local bodies polls. As per the new ordinance, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is bound to include EVMs in the elections.

Buzdar said the parliament had passed a law regarding the EVMs and now the Punjab government will ensure voting through the machines as well.

After the new amendments by the Punjab government, sources speculate there could be a delay in the local government elections as it wouldn’t be possible for the ECP to conduct elections in March next year.

On Saturday, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar approved the Punjab Local Government Act 2021, paving way for local government elections on a party basis.

The local bodies were restored by the Punjab government on the orders of the Supreme Court after a 25-month long suspension.

The top court had declared Section 3 of the Local Government Act unconstitutional and annulled the Punjab government move to dissolve the local bodies prematurely.

 

[MenInG]

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Tuesday that the government was ready to provide Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), urging the poll body to go ahead and issue tender for the machines.

Briefing the media on the federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier today, the government spokesperson said that the ECP should issue a tender carrying all the requirements and conditions needed for holding the next general elections through EVMs.


Referring to the correspondence between the ECP and the ministry of science and technology, the information minister said that the government has informed the electoral body that the demonstration of the developed prototype of EVM was given to the commission on April 17 and later to the secretary ECP on November 15. “To our understanding, ECP has approved the machines and the science ministry is ready to supply the machines,” he added.

The minister recalled that the talk about holding elections via EVM first started in 2012 under PPP’s government and, subsequently, the PML-N government directed ECP in 2017 to take practical steps for making it a reality. He said that PTI was taking the world already done by PPP and PML-N forward, adding all the political parties should play a positive role in this regard.

The Cabinet was given a detailed briefing on the schedule regarding delivery and use of EVMs at all polling stations in the country and training of staff. The cabinet expressed its firm resolve to hold the next elections through EVMs after the implementation of laws regarding electronic voting machines and voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.

Previously, the federal government had linked releasing of funds for the ECP to holding all the elections in the country through the machines. “If the elections are not held through EVMs then the government would not be able to release funds to ECP because the law permits holding elections only via EVM,” he had said.

On the cost of the elections via EVM, the minister while talking to The Express Tribune had revealed that roughly Rs27 billion rupees would be required for holding the next general elections, saying 400,000 machines with 800,000 voting pads would be enough to hold the provincial and national assembly elections in 2023. Keeping roughly 400,000 polling booths in the country in view, he had said, the ECP says that 800,000 EVMs would be needed to hold the next general elections.

On Tuesday, the cabinet welcomed the ECP’s decision to use EVMs in the local body elections in Islamabad. Later, while replying to a question, the minister said that obtaining 4,000 machines was not a problem for ECP as it would get the machines as soon as it issues a tender.

 

[MenInG]

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday once again extended the government’s offer for talks on electoral and judicial reforms to the opposition parties amid growing calls for protest and claim that the ruling PTI’s days were numbered.

In a news briefing after the federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government spokesperson said: “We want to engage the opposition on electoral and judicial reforms and on the process for appointment of NAB (National Accountability Bureau) chairman.”

On the same note, he said it “seems that the reforms are not the priority of opposition leaders” as they were only focused on hatching conspiracies against the government.

The minister laughed off PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s claim that the ruling PTI’s days were numbered, saying: “Even children did not take her remarks seriously.”

Fawad said that the opposition parties were striving from day one to oust the incumbent government but four years down the line this remained only their desire.

Flanked by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, the information minister accused the opposition parties of spreading misinformation on the bill granting autonomy to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), saying the facts were quite different from what was being propagated by the opposition.

SBP’s autonomy

On the SBP amendment bill which was recently passed from the National Assembly, the energy minister said that opposition tried its best to make it controversial but the fact is that the SBP was still not that autonomous as the central banks around the world were.

Arguing in favour of keeping the central bank autonomous, Azhar said that the global data shows that inflation goes down and economic growth continues where the central banks are given autonomy.

Azhar clarified that the federal government would remain the appointing authority for the posts of governor, deputy governors and board of directors, adding that the three- and five-year security of tenure was present in the law for the last five decades.

To keep the federal government as the appointing authority for the board of governors, he revealed, a concession was obtained after hard negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

He said security of tenure was also available to the chiefs of several regulatory authorities, including Ogra and Nepra, whom one can’t remove later on. “The same formula has been applied on State Bank,” he said.

Referring to a bill pertaining to SBP’s autonomy passed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in 2015, Azhar said that the previous PML-N government surrendered federal the government’s power to the board of directors by making the law in 2015. “The role of State Bank of Pakistan has been strengthened further by substituting the federal government’s approval wherever acquired with the board’s approval,” he read the State of Object from the PML-N’s law.

On the contrary, he said, the ruling PTI has said that the federal government would appoint all the board members.

“Now, you decide which party tried to undermine the autonomy and which tried to protect it,” Azhar said.

Accusing the PML-N of misguiding people on different issues, he said that the SBP and all its assets would remain under federal government’s ownership.

The information minister incorporated that the bill regarding SBP’s autonomy would soon be tabled in the Senate, which would hopefully adopt it.

On shortage of gas supply to domestic consumers in Karachi, Azhar admitted that Sindh’s capital was facing a shortfall of gas this winter, saying that under the cabinet-approved priority order, gas was previously diverted to domestic consumers from roughly 1,800 non-export general industry in Karachi for a month or so every winter.

This time around, he said, the industry got a stay order from the Sindh High Court and then the stay orders were continuously obtained to stop the government from diverting 100 mmcft of gas to domestic consumers.

Every year, he said, the priority order is followed where domestic consumers are supplied gas first followed by the export sector and then the general industry, adding that it couldn’t happen this year. Revealing that the case was fixed before the SHC on January 19, he hoped that the Sui Southern Gas Pipeline Company would be able to convince the court through its arguments to vacate the stay earlier granted.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2339314/fawad-gives-talks-offer-another-push

 

[Last Monetarist]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LG elections in KP have again shown problem of rejected votes bec of double stamping etc. The same had come out in Judicial Commission report on 2013 elections. The ability to manipulate elections through getting opp votes rejected is one of the reasons the status quo opposes EVM <a href="https://t.co/ch78zPEGQw">pic.twitter.com/ch78zPEGQw</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1493830908113297410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2343776/ecp-begins-work-on-voting-machines

The Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally begun work on electronic voting machines (EVM) and the voting system for overseas Pakistanis.

According to the ECP, the PMU is preparing project plans for the machines. In the first phase, EVM machines will be procured for pilot testing. The purchase of machines will be advertised in the newspapers.

As per the ECP’s statement, the machines would be procured from a national or international firm according to PPRA rules.

A voting report for EVMs and overseas Pakistanis has been prepared for this purpose by three committees covering its technical, financial and legal aspects.

 

[MenInG]

The joint opposition on Monday called for introducing electoral reforms before holding fresh polls in the country to “close the doors of rigging” and urged the Supreme Court to declare National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling to dismiss the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan illegal.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman noted that the country was going through a “constitutional crisis”.

“The deputy speaker gave an illegal ruling on the direction of the premier. President [Arif Alvi] also did not pay heed to anything and dissolved the [National] assembly,” he said.

“Our last and inevitable demand and request to the [Supreme] court is to declare deputy speaker’s ruling illegal.”

Suri, on Sunday, dismissed the no-confidence motion submitted against PM Imran, terming it a violation of Article 5 of the Constitution. Later, President Arif Alvi dissolved the NA on the advice of the premier.

Fazl alleged that the 2018 government of the PTI came to power through rigging and called for introducing electoral reforms before the fresh polls, saying the party was again trying to get elected through “illegal means”.

While referring to the “threat letter against the PTI government”, he said the National Assembly was dissolved on the basis of a speculation, adding that “we will not allow this foul play to continue anymore”.

“Once again you (PM Imran) are trying to hide behind the letter.”
He said the members of the National Assembly should be given the right to vote and elect a new premier.

READ PM urges opposition to accept snap polls offer instead of supporting ‘foreign plot’

Fazl said the security agencies should clarify their position on the “threat letter”, adding that their statement of being “neutral” was not enough.

In a statement, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari also said that that PM Imran was trying to “lurk” behind the letter.

He said the National Security Committee (NSC) members had mentioned that they found no evidence of foreign conspiracy in the document.

Commenting on PM Imran’s statement, Zardari said the security agencies officials should clarify their position that they were “satisfied with him on the issue of letter”.

“Now this issue (pertaining to threat letter) is no more related to [PM] Imran Khan or the joint opposition but it has become a national issue.”

Speaking to media, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that “Imran had attacked the constitution of the country” by dissolving the National Assembly and sought the application of Article 6 against him.

She said people were “crushed by inflation” during the three-and-half-year rule of the PTI and that the party had “compromised” on the Kashmir policy.

She maintained that the dissident members of the PTI left PM Imran because of his “poor policies” saying, “they knew that [PM] Imran had lost majority and people were not with him [anymore]”.

Deliberating on the “threat letter”, Marriyum quoted PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry as saying that the “NSC [meeting] had endorsed the letter”.

“ demand to make [minutes of] this meeting public,” she said.

 

[Bewal Express]

All this to avoid an election. What a bunch of losers

 

[MenInG]

The National Assembly on Saturday passed a motion authorising the newly-elected speaker of the National Assembly, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, to constitute a parliamentary committee for electoral reforms in order to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.

The motion, moved by PML-N’s Murtaza Javed Abbasi, said the committee will present its report within three months from the day of its notification.

The authority to nominate members of the committee has been vested in the NA speaker.
The motion highlighted that electoral laws were in need of improvement so as to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

It is important to mention here that the issue of electoral reforms has been a rallying cry of the coalition government led by the PML-N. The newly-elected prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, as well as his allies, have emphasised the country could ill afford another election in the absence of certain important changes to the laws pertaining to elections.

Meanwhile, the NA session on Saturday also passed a resolution strongly condemning the physical and verbal attack on Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari by the PTI and PML-Q members to sabotage the process of election of the Punjab chief minister.

The resolution moved by PML-N's Shaza Fatima, voiced concerns over the security of the members of the Punjab Assembly and blatant violation of the constitution.

It urged that law and order be restored and the process of election of the chief minister be completed. The resolution also demanded that those responsible for the incident be dealt with according to the law in order to prevent such actions in future.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2353008/parliamentary-body-for-electoral-reforms-formed

 

[Major]

With no opposition, time for pdm govt to bring reforms and reform evm and ivoting after having proper discussion in the house

 

[MenInG]

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja has said that he had no intention of tendering his resignation, and would continue to work in the "best interest of the country".

Raja's statement comes a day after PTI Chairman Imran Khan called for his resignation, saying the party believed him to be "biased". Addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence, Imran had said the PTI did not trust the CEC, alleging all his decisions were against the party.

Speaking to DawnNews on Saturday night, Raja rejected Imran's demand for his resignation. "I have no intention of tendering my resignation," he said, adding that there was no valid reason to "think like that".

"I am working in the best interest of the country and shall continue to do so," he added.

Last week, Imran had claimed that Raja's name for the CEC office was suggested by the establishment.

Speaking to journalists about a range of issues at an informal meeting at his Bani Gala residence, the former prime minister alleged that Raja's name was proposed by the establishment after a deadlock between the then government and the opposition, suggesting the chief election commissioner should be appointed through an independent body.

Imran had stated that the PTI would file a reference against the CEC, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had displayed “incompetence” by not completing the delimitation of constituencies on time, which delayed early elections.

At a rally held in Lahore on Thursday, the PTI chairman had reiterated allegations of Raja being biased, stating that his leanings were so obvious that "he should be given a PML-N office position".

Meanwhile, the PML-N claimed that Imran was targeting the CEC through a fake narrative ahead of the ECP's verdict in the PTI’s foreign funding case.

Raja, who was appointed in January 2020, is the first-ever ex-bureaucrat to be heading the country’s apex electoral body.

The decision was made by a 12-member bipartisan parliamentary panel after several months of back and forth about key appointments to the ECP, which was later forwarded to the prime minister for his approval.

PTI leader Shireen Mazari, who was the human rights minister at the time and heading the parliamentary body, had welcomed the decision.

"Parliamentarians have taken a decision, which was their responsibility. Parliamentary matters should be decided by parliament,” Mazari had said while announcing the end of a deadlock that had kept the ECP dysfunctional for at least one-and-a-half months.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1686574/no-intention-of-resigning-says-chief-election-commissioner

 

[MenInG]

Following the refusal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja from stepping down from his post, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced to stage protests outside the offices of the Election Commission of Pakistan across the country from Tuesday.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the political committee presided over by PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Talking to the media after the meeting, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the CEC had crossed all limits of prejudice and dishonesty.

Fawad announced that PTI would hold protests outside the offices of ECP across the country from April 26 "due to the behaviour of the CEC".

He further said that instructions have been issued to all district organisations of the party in this regard.

Earlier, Raja, who was appointed in January 2020 by a joint parliamentary panel, said that he had no plans to step down and would continue to work as the head of the election watchdog. He made these comments while talking to a local media outlet last night.

"I am working in the best interest of the country and shall continue to do so," he added.

Raja’s statement had come on the heels of remarks by former prime minister Imran Khan, wherein he sought the resignation of the CEC for being "biased" towards his party.

Imran had reportedly said the PTI would file a reference against Raja for the ECP’s failure to conduct early elections because delimitations of constituencies were not conducted on time.

The ex-premier had also alleged a conspiracy behind the foreign funding case – filed in 2014 by a founding member of the PTI Akbar S Babar – that nears conclusion after the Islamabad High Court ordered the ECP to conduct daily hearings.

This is not the first time the PTI has railed against the incumbent CEC. Fawad had also urged the ECP members to defy the commissioner in a press conference in November last year.

He had accused Raja of acting as the mouthpiece of his rival parties. Fawad had later apologised for his remarks.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

LONDON: Electronic voting machines will not be used in the next general election, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday. He, however, said that the government will take measures to give representation to expats.

The statement came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal ministers' meeting with the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif at his son Hussain Nawaz's residence in London. This was the second meeting since the prime minister and his delegation flew to London to meet Nawaz.

The minister, flanked by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Marriyum Aurangzeb, said while speaking to Pakistani media that the incumbent government will "abolish" the idea of EVMs. He also briefed the media about decisons made in the meeting.

GEO

 

[daytrader]

SAPM Kaira blames Alvi for uncertainty in the country

GUJRAT: Adviser to Prime Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira says violation of constitution by President Arif Alvi is the main reason for current uncertainty in the country.

He said after the rejection of his earlier conspiracy theories, former PM Imran Khan had come up with his possible assassination theory which was totally baseless.

He was talking to Dawn at a breakfast in his honour at Kot Bela village on Sunday where former finance minister Tanveer Kaira was also present. He said the coalition partners had agreed to hold the next elections after electoral reforms for which the government wanted to engage the PTI leadership as well.

He said since the election laws needed to be amended to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan, the government might opt to complete its term as the ECP also required at least six months to complete the preparations of fresh vote.

Mr Kaira said the country needed a charter of economy for which talks among the ruling coalition parties and other parties had begun whereas the PML-N and PPP had decided to sign part 2 of the Charter of Democracy just to implement the remaining portions of part 1.

Responding to a question, Kaira said that the PPP had not asked for seat adjustment in a meeting with Mian Nawaz Sharif in London nor it was an appropriate time to do so. However, he said Nawaz Sharif had conveyed to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the London meeting that both the parties should work jointly for at least 10 years to steer the country out of the present complicated situation.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1689864/s...president-alvi-for-uncertainty-in-the-country

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has refused to take part government’s electoral reforms committee, ARY News reported.

According to sources, the PML-N led coalition government will form an electoral reform committee in the coming two to three days, but PTI has decided to not be a part of the committee.

Talking on ARY News talk show 11th Hour PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had clarified that they do not wish to participate in any electoral reform committee until the date of the fresh elections is not announced. We would talk about electoral issues including the removal of the ECP head after elections are announced, he added.

On May 18, the PPP leader and former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Khurshed Shah said that the government has decided to bring the electoral reforms bill to the National Assembly next week.

Talking to the media, Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Shah had said that the government will bring legal and electoral reforms before and after the upcoming Federal Budget. “Next elections could not be held before the electoral reforms,” Shah said.

Moreover, the PPP had sent four names to Speaker of National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf for a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, one of the key agendas of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

ARY

 

[Stewie]

Free and fair elections in Pakistan are a facade.


Either the establishment fixes them or the elite parties through money and stuff..

Or both!

If they are both in the PDM corner, there is no way IK will win. Never!

 

[Major]

Here is my experience of transfering my vote this week.

Backstory:
Ever since i was eligible to vote in 2013, odly enough my vote had been transferred to an area that doesnt match both permnanent or temporary address of my cnic.

This is systematic rigging that pmln does. Anyways, 2018 elections came, and i along with my mom went to that place in pindi which wasnt out constiuentcy to cast our vote. They even shifted my moms vote aswell.

Now, ever since after the last election, i wanted to get my vote transfer. My permanent and temoporary/present address are different on cnic and thus i wanted to make sure my vote is i my present address. Didnt know how it was done as no one assists with this matter.

Now:
As we are in the final year before the care taker govt takes over, ecp has started to display voting list in all the constituencies. They have made display centers. Basically various govt schools have voters list and you can transfer your vote against your address.

Now the issue is the process of transfering the votes as ecp hasnt made them simple.

I know that ecp is allowing vote transfer to happen till a certain date/deadline.

I got ny friend to call a helpline of ecp on how to get vote transferred. The employee on the line tokd my friend that i will have to go to ecp office in my city and submit a form there and thats it. I went to ecp office in rawalpindi which is quite far from where i live to get my vote transferred along with my mothers. Over there i came to know that vote isnt transferred from there.

The ecp official gave me form 15 and gave me address of two display centers to go there and submit that form. Ecp official told me that usually the timings are 9-5 but still call the official before going. He gave me the phone number of Shaukat ameer who he taught deals with vote transfer of my address.

Next day, i decided to go to the school where shaukat ameer was. I tried calling him, turns out, the ecp official gave me a wrong number accidentally as it belonged to some other Shaukat. Anyways, i decided to visit this shuakat ameer at the given adress of his office which is a govt girls highschool because as he is an employee of punjab govt he should follow the office time laws. I go to a govt school which is a bit away from my address, and i found out that mr. Shaukat ameer is not in his office, and its 4 pm. Im told by one of the staff member that i should visit tomr. As tomr is Friday, i should visit between 9-12. On weekdays i can visit him till 2 as he leaves office by then. Anyways, the staff member gives me the proper phone number of shuakat ameer.

I realized the guy was leaving his office earlier than what has been ordered by the govt.

Next day, which is today, i call shaukat ameer and go to his office. Apprently over there i found out my address vote would be dealt by some other display center. He gives me the address and tells me that as today its friday i should go before 12...

Anyways, i decide to visit the said govt school at 3:00pm that shaukat ameer told me. This is the third place i am visiting now...

To my surprise this punjab govt official was in their office. She took my form and i informed her that i admired her honesty that while other punjab govt employees were leaving office earlier than their ordered times, she was still in her office. Its at that moment she told me that the official times were till 5 and some employees do act dishonestly.

Long story short, the point is,

Ecp vote transfering system is a joke. They should had allowed multiple places to transfer vote.

Govt schools are difficult to find.

Punjab govt employees are not in their offices when required. But at the same time, not all employees are bad there are honest employees aswell. I am glad that the display center dealing with my address is an honest officer.

Ecp really needs to fix the system and make it computerized where information filing could be done from anywhere

 

[daytrader]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am afraid neither the PDM parties, who have perfected the art of rigging over the years want free and fair elections, nor does our Establishment.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1545282444991102976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[daytrader]

‘Powerful quarters’ opposed EVMs to ‘sway’ results, PTI chief claims

JHANG: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday lamented that his efforts to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) to ensure transparent polls in Pakistan were scuttled by “powerful quarters”, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and the major political parties who allegedly endorsed rigging.

“When I was in government, I tried really hard for 2.5 years to introduce EVMs for free and fair polls in Pakistan… [which] would have allowed us to organise transparent elections,” Imran Khan said while addressing a political gathering in Jhang in connection with by-polls on July 17.

The two political families — Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — ruling Pakistan for the past 35 years opposed these reforms to save their “fake votes”, he claimed. Mr Khan alleged that ECP head Sikandar Sultan Raja also joined hands with these parties against the EVMs even though it was the “job of the ECP to ensure fair polls”.

“And those people who have been in power in this country for quite some time… those who influence the results of election whenever they want to, they also opposed these voting machines,” the former prime minister alleged without naming anyone.

Taking a dig at the CEC, Mr Khan said the election commissioner should have resigned after the “massively rigged local government elections” in Sindh. He alleged the police did not allow his party candidates to contest on at least 15 per cent of the total seats and that the Sindh election commissioner was allegedly on the payroll of the provincial government.

Imran Khan also criticised the CEC for opposing “open voting” in the Senate election despite instructions from the Supreme Court. He claimed that CEC Raja was also “secretly meeting” PML-N leaders Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz ahead of the by-polls.

The PTI chairman regretted that his party was not busy planning to bring out maximum voters on polling day as should be the case in any developed country but instead it was busy planning how to counter rigging on the day of the election. “We are training our polling agents to block rigging at polling stations with a special focus on polling stations reserved for women,” he added.

Mr Khan, again, referred to ‘Mr X’ and ‘Mr Y’ and said they had been “ordered to facilitate the victory” of the PML-N in the by-election. He claimed that the PTI nominees were not only contesting elections against ‘turncoats’ but were also taking on ‘umpires’ who planned to pave way for the victory of the PML-N candidates.

The PTI chairman said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz were trying to save themselves from corruption cases to the tune of Rs16 billion cases.

Addressing a separate gathering in Jhang City, the PTI chairman warned the establishment against creating hurdles in the way of peaceful protests taken out by the supporters of the PTI. He added if attempts were made to stop the protesters then it could push the country towards anarchy.

In an allusion to the PTI’s long march on May 25, Imran Khan said police officials and Rangers personnel fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets on unarmed protesters. Mr Khan warned that Pakistan could experience a Sri Lanka-like political crisis and added the nation would not forgive those who with the alleged help of the US imposed ‘crooks’ on the country.

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

PPP Punjab Secretary General Hassan Murtaza said the party did not have any objection to the electronic voting machines (EVMs) but only harboured some reservations regarding its usage, emphasising that the PPP always welcomed debate on electoral reforms.

Murtaza, whose party opposes the immediate usage of electronic voting machines due to the lack of political consensus, was speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the European Union (EU).

The EU’s delegation led by its Political Secretary Dillarde Teilane called on the PPP leader.

The meeting was also attended by Zaid Ahmed Maher and coordinator DRI Samia Yusuf, finance secretary PPP central Punjab Rana Jawad, secretary events and records Ahsan Rizvi and PPP leader Afraz Naqvi.

During the meeting, he said that PPP has always welcomed debate on electoral reforms.

He briefed the delegation about the party’s contributions to the strengthening of democratic values in the country, including the passage of the 18th Amendment. He also said that PPP always stood for the rights of minorities, freedom of expression and women’s rights, adding that it believes that “democracy is the best revenge”.

He suggested that political parties should give 5 per cent representation to women on general seats, and they should be nominated on the basis of their performance, pointing out party notables including Benazir Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Faryal Talpur.

He added that the people were politically aware as women like Abida Hussain, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana and Salim Bibi Bharwana have been getting elected from backward areas like Chiniot and Jhang.

Murtaza said that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has played a fundamental role in the registration of women voters.He was of the view that Sindh was being punished because of its political consciousness, saying that electables were used by the establishment to make the governments of their choice.

He also paid tribute to the struggle of Jam Saqi and G M Syed.

Responding to a question, he said that political parties must discourage bringing the same women to the assemblies again and again. He said that women’s membership in PPP is more than other political parties and their representation in various committees is 5 to 10 per cent.

Responding to another question regarding intolerance in politics, the PPP leader held Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan responsible for this, accusing him of not accepting the decisions of institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Teilane said that the EU is in contact with various political parties on electoral reforms. She said that the EU wants improvement in electoral reforms in Pakistan.

She also said that the EU is also interested in knowing about legislation regarding the disabled, minorities and transgender persons. The EU will welcome recommendations for electoral reforms at the federal and provincial levels, she added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2374588/no-objections-to-evms-only-reservations-ppp

 

[daytrader]

ECP gives parties last chance in funding case
Proceedings to resume on Oct 3

ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday heard the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition to ascertain other political parties’ sources of funding, wherein the respondents asked for more time, prompting the commission to declare the next hearing as the last date for presenting arguments.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s lawyer said that their application in the case was rejected, therefore, they need more time to submit their response. Similarly, the Awami National Party’s (ANP) lawyer said that their senior lawyer was busy and could not appear for the hearing, therefore, they too needed more time.

The member commission told the lawyers that they take fees from their clients and come to the hearing saying that they are not senior lawyers, which was not the right behavior.

PTI contested the requests for delays, saying that the case had been delayed enough already. Their representative said that every time they come and ask for more respite, adding that the respondents had turned the ECP into a civil court.

PTI also demanded that the matter of ascertaining the sources of political parties’ funds should be handed over to the scrutiny committee.

The member said that the political parties should submit their responses, adding that the final arguments would be held at the next hearing, and the case would not be adjourned any longer.

The member also said that whoever wanted to submit their response should do so in the next hearing, otherwise they would pronounce their decision.

The ECP then adjourned the case till October 3.

Express Tribune