EVMs cannot be hacked, says Shahbaz Gill
Shahbaz Gill said that the ECP did not use technology for transparent elections
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill on Saturday slammed the opposition parties for the propaganda against electronic voting machines said that the machines cannot be hacked.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said electoral reforms was part of the PTI manifesto, which would be fulfilled at every cost.
He said they were unable to understand why the opposition was afraid of the EVMs use in the general elections, adding that the present EVM was most modern compared with the one introduced in 2017.
He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was made bound through Election Act 2017 to initially use the EVMs at small scale, and after rectifying its flaws if any, the machines would be used at large scale.
He said that more than 50 bye-polls had so far been held during the last four years, but unfortunately the ECP did not fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. He said the points raised by the ECP over the use of EVMs in the next general elections had been rejected and criticised in editorials and analysis of almost all national dailies.
Gill said that it was his humble request to the ECP to fulfill its constitutional responsibility. “We can’t even think of disrespecting the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he added.
On Friday, addressing a press conference flanked by Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Swati, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said that the attitude of the Election Commission is tantamount to depriving the Parliament of its privileges.
He said that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and company were making the whole matter controversial, adding that the ECP has now become the headquarters of the opposition. “We want to use technology to make elections transparent but the logic of the Election Commission is strange,” he said.
Chaudhry said that the attitude of the Election Commission today is tantamount to depriving the parliament of its privileges. He said that unfortunately, the thinking of the opposition is limited to taking dates from courts in their cases. Only strong parliament can make the politics of the country better, he added.
The federal minister said in the 2018 elections, people expressed confidence in Imran Khan. He said that the PTI promised to make the elections transparent in its manifesto, adding incumbent government is the first that has put forward proposals in this regard.
He said that the power to make laws lies with the Parliament not with the ECP. He alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner wants to act as the mouthpiece of the opposition.
While criticizing the chief election commissioner Fawad said that he had been in close touch with Nawaz Sharif and may have personal sympathy with him adding if we do not trust the election commissioner, how will he conduct elections.
He said that the chief election commissioner should not become a tool of small political parties adding CEC has played politics of stupid objections on EVMs. If they want to do politics then the response will come, he warned.
Senate committee rejects amendment
Meanwhile, Senate committee rejected amendment related to the use of electronic voting machine (EVM) in elections. During the session of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, reform regarding E-voting for overseas Pakistanis has also been rejected.
Azam Swati alleges ECP of taking bribes Earlier Federal minister Azam Swati on Friday leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of taking bribes.
During the session of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the minister criticized the commission for making fun of the Parliament. In a protest against the statement of Azam Swati, the ECP officials walked out of the meeting.
Opposition expresses concerns
On the other hand opposition parties expressed their concerns over accusing Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of taking money during the polls.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and opposition leader in National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif lashed out at the government ministers and said that they have no proper argument regarding electronic voting machine.
PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said that government representatives threatened the national institutions whereas we criticized the hidden negative elements.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also expressed its reservation over accusation against the election commission.
PPP leader Sherry Rehman said that the government is not ready to accept 37 objections and wants to exercise its full will in the elections.
