ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday rejected the objections raised by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to the electronic voting machines and expressed the resolve to go ahead with their use in the next general elections to ensure uncontroversial electoral exercise.

The legislative process for machine introduction and for overseas Pakistanis’ right to vote would be completed this month and everybody would be bound to obey the law once it’s enacted, announced federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz at a press conference.

The minister invited all political parties to get the error-free machines, developed by his ministry, examined by their technical experts.

About the 37 objections raised by the ECP, Mr Faraz said 27 of them were not about the machines but related to ECP’s own capacity, whereas the machine developed by his ministry had already addressed the remaining 10 objections.

Voting on key election bills deferred amid controversy over change in Senate panel’s composition

“It’s a concept and not a mere machine,” he said, adding it was bad news for the status quo forces which are against the holding of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

The minister said all elections in the past were controversial and marred by the use of money and intimidation as tools to influence the results. Also, fake ballot papers had been printed in the past, he added.

The PTI leader said Imran Khan, who had introduced the concept of neutral umpires in the cricket world, wanted that voting machines be introduced in the country to ensure holding of transparent elections. He also referred to a Supreme Court judgement on the introduction of technology in elections.

Production, testing, training

While dispelling the impression about time scarcity, he said two years were enough for machines production, procurement and testing besides imparting technical training for their operation.

Answering a question, the minister was of the opinion that around 400,000 machines would be required for the next general elections and said their production could complete within six months if each day 2,000 machines were manufactured.

He called the figure of Rs150 billion being cited as estimated expenditure to be incurred on purchase of machines exaggerated.

He told the media that the ECP admitted its objections were not against the specific machine and formed a technical committee after the ministry gave a demonstration on the operation of voting machines to the commission on August 17.

The technical committee met for the first time on Wednesday, the minister said, adding that it would be a milestone in electoral history to use technology for holding of general elections.

He said the machines did not require electricity, as their battery life was 24 hours. They could be placed in areas with temperature below freezing point.

All objections will vanish: Babar

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan earlier briefed a Senate panel over the objections raised by the ECP to the plan of using voting machines in next general elections.

The adviser asserted that all objections would vanish when a law was passed in accordance with the Constitution. “No institution [ECP] is over and above the Constitution,” he remarked at the meeting of the Senate standing committee on parliamentary affairs. The panel met to discuss two bills seeking to amend the elections act for introduction of voting machines and I-voting right for overseas Pakistanis.

Mr Awan said it was ECP’s job to select and procure machines and declared that the government would “neither propose” nor procure or choose a machine.

The committee deferred its plan for voting on the two bills, because a controversy over the change of committee’s composition by the Senate chairman tilting balance in favour of the ruling coalition consumed most of the time.

The adviser explained that under Rule 173 of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Senate, no senator could become member of more than five committees of the House. He said Samina Mumtaz of the Balochistan Awami Party was already a member of five committees when she was appointed as member of the Senate committee on parliamentary affairs.

However, he added, swapping could take place under the rules. He further argued that the House through a motion had been authorised to change the composition of the committees as and when he deems fit.

Law Minister Barrister Farogh Naseem then added: “Maybe it was not correct on day one, but now Samina Mumtaz is member of just five committees.”

Senator Farooq Naek said the very intent of the appointment just ahead of voting process was mala fide.

Senator Azam Nazir Tarar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz said it was unfortunate that the committee worked hard for two months before the lady joined it just to favour the bills.

Barrister Nasim said malice was irrelevant if there was something lawful.

Barrister Ali Zafar of the PTI said right or wrong, it was a decision of the House that could not be overruled by a committee. He said even if there was no motion, the chairman could take a decision on issues where the law was silent under Rule 264. He said a committee could not question such a decision.

PTI Senator Waleed Iqbal proposing a ‘safe passage’ to the committee chairman asked him to invoke Rule 201 that read “If any doubt arises on any point of procedure or interpretation of these rules in this Chapter, the Chairman of the Committee may refer the point to the Chairman of the Senate, whose decision shall be final”.

He said if objections raised over a particular point had been conveyed to the Senate chairman and he had not recalled his orders, the order prevailed and held the field.

While mentioning that voting machines were the only way forward, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan argued that no law repugnant to the Constitution would be framed.

Chairman of the Senate committee Senator Taj Haider at the fag end of the proceedings for a third consecutive day said he had not lost hope and would continue to make efforts for reconciliation. He announced that the committee would meet again on Friday (September 10).

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2021