ISLAMABAD, AUG 25 (DNA) – Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided against using electronic voting machines in NA-120 by-election.

A meeting was chaired by ECP chief on Friday. The officials decided to use system of biometric machines. They believe that pilot project for biometric system will not influence the results.

There are a total of 220 polling stations in NA-120. Biometric machines will be used in the 39 polling stations. ECP will use 100 machines in 100 polling booths. ECP claimed that this kind of pilot project for biometric machines system will not influence the result of polls.

They further told that biometric machines were to be used in PP-4 by-election, but court order cancelled the election schedule. The total number of voters in NA-120 constituency is 321,786.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) candidate has stepped down in support of PTI s Yasmin Rashid.

The time to withdraw nomination papers for the by-poll has ended. NA-120 seat was vacated after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by Supreme Court in Panama case ruling. His wife Kulsoom Nawaz will contest the election from PML-N. The election is scheduled on September 17.=DNA

================