ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (DNA): Federal Minister for Science and Technology,
Senator Syed Shibli Faraz on Sunday said invalid observations raised
over Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) by Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) without examining it thoroughly reflected lack of seriousness
toward adopting technology for ensuring transparent elections.

Addressing a press conference flanked with the Federal Minister of
Information and Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, he said that his
ministry prepared a prototype of EVM and invited all the political
parties, ECP and masses to examine the machine. But, he said, it was
quite unfortunate that ECP had not extended such cooperation which it
was supposed to offer.

The ECP gave a list of 37 objections, out of which 27 were related to
the incapacity of ECP itself to handle EVMs.

The remaining 10 observations were related to the technical side
corresponding to EVM including lack of ballot secrecy, lack of voter
anonymity, lack of transparency, biasedness of machine, hackable,
reusability of technology and easy upgradation, lack of evidence in
election disputes, technical challenges, upgradation etc. He said the
EVM prepared by his ministry addressed all these observations too.

Shibli Faraz added that EVM was prepared to consider 72 requirements
given by ECP however, EVM was a concept and it was not necessary to use
this specific EVM prototype prepared by his ministry as “we only want
technology driven elections to ensure transparency in results”.

He said the ECP was creating such an atmosphere where it looked that it
was not interested in adoption of such technology to ensure transparency
in elections and just using delay tactics so that it would not be used
in the upcoming elections.

He said the article 103 of electoral reforms 2017 clearly mentioned that
the pilot projects to bring reforms in elections would be conducted.

“Why didn’t the ECP take any step to use EVM in around 10 by-election
held during the last months”, he asked and emphasized, “ECP has to show
seriousness, increase their capacity and play their due part in
conducting technology driven elections in the country”.

“The national decision cannot be taken or hindered as per someone’s
willingness. Apart from someone’s likeness or dislikeness, 2023
elections should be conducted through EVM,” he added.

The minister stated that the government had carried out serious efforts
to ensure free and fair elections in the country, despite many other
huge challenges.

He said the way Prime Minister, Imran Khan introduced a neutral empire
to end any dispute in cricket, he wanted to introduce such a transparent
system in the political field through introducing electoral reforms,
adopting the technology.

He said, “Bringing transparency into elections is not a new stance but
we have been raising this issue since the year 2009”.

The Supreme Court decision of the 2018 election, Judicial Commission
report, ECP 2010 report, and High Court decision reflected the need to
ensure transparency in elections for which use of technology was
inevitable.

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