Joint sitting of Parliament approves amendments allowing EVMs, overseas voting
Joint session sees pandemonium as opposition lawmakers tear copies of agenda, walk out in protest.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Amid pandemonium from the opposition benches, the joint session of the Parliament on Wednesday approved three important bills including the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Second Election Amendment Bill 2021, and the Kulbhushan Jadhav bill allowing him the right to appeal amid the hues and cry of the opposition.
According to the details garnered, the government proved its majority after the joint house approved a law by 221 to 203 votes to introduce EVMs in the next general elections.
Minutes later the joint session also approved some others bills. Under the legislation passed, Pakistanis living in other countries would be allowed to vote in the elections through I-Voting system.
At least 16 members of Parliament (MPs) from opposition parties remained absent during the voting. The absent opposition members included Naved Qamar, Akhtar Mengal, Ali Wazir, and Yousaf Talpur.
The joint session passed a bill to comply with the International Court of Justice ruling about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Two Muslim family laws were also passed.
This prompted the opposition to tear copies of the agenda and walk out of the session in protest. Lawmakers also gathered around the treasury benches, chanting slogans against Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government.
Earlier, the bill on the use of EVMs was deferred at the request of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, but it was later taken up again and put up to a vote.
Opposition members later staged a walk out from the session, alleging that the vote count was rigged. They also tore up copies of the agenda.
Shehbaz Sharif calls EVMs ‘evil and vicious machine’
President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif has called electronic voting machines (EVMs) "evil and vicious machines".
Addressing the session, Opposition Leader of National Assembly said that the government and its allies wanted to bulldoze important bills and termed it "illegal" and said that it spoiled the traditions of Parliament.
PML-N President said that initially the session was postponed and the government said it wanted to consult with the opposition on the issue but it was a ploy to buy time so that the government could secure the votes it needed. You had no intention of doing consultations on the issue, he added.
He said that there are always allegations of rigging during the elections but this is the first time in history that there are allegations of rigging before the elections. The "selected government" wanted to introduce EVMs because it can no longer ask the people for votes, he added.
PML-N President asked Asad Qaiser to defer the joint session so “comprehensive consultation” could take place on the matter of electoral reforms.
We’re introducing EVMs to bury evil desires: FM Qureshi
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that PTI doesn’t want to impose black law rather it is striving to eliminate the bad practices of previous governments.
Speaking in joint session of the Parliament, the minister said that questions were raised on every election conducted after 1970. The time has come to improve our direction and focus on the development of the country, he added.
Qureshi said that we are tabling the bills as we have required majority for their approvals. PTI government is determined to move forward in a democratic way, he expressed.
The minister said that we are introducing EVMs to bury evil desires.
Opposition won’t accept next election if govt passes black laws: Bilawal
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that government is going forward with one-sided electoral reforms which have never before been seen in the country’s history.
While referring to previous government former PM Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal said that the PML-N had clear majority and if it unilaterally decided and used the majority to force reforms, then the PTI and the PPP would not have been able to do anything.
"If they had decided to introduce a constitutional amendment, then we would have to accept their decision. But they achieved a consensus," he said.
He said that if we carried out reforms together then the next election would not be controversial and it would have been Khan Sahab’s success.
However, he said that the opposition would not accept the results of the next election if the government continued in the manner it was proceeding in.
He also reminded the speaker that he is the custodian of the National Assembly of Pakistan and had agreed in writing with the Opposition that whatever legislation is brought in will be done with consensus.
Speaking about the EVM, he said even the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected it and raised 37 serious objections over the machine.
Bilawal said they will stand by the ECP. "As long as the ECP has reservations, we have reservations," Bilawal said.
No personal interest behind electoral reforms: PM Imran Khan
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that he has no personal interest behind legislation regarding electoral reforms.
Talking to media, the premier said that country’s future is linked to the fair democracy practices. You will play very important role in holding transparent and rigging-free elections, he stated to media personnel.
The PM said that overseas Pakistanis are backbone of country’s economy and they also have right to participate in election process. Overseas voting and EVMs are essential for country and democracy, he added.Parliament
