RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and biometric voting machines (BVMs) by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for upcoming elections might not be possible unless the government spends Rs 90 billion on procurements of these machines.

Sources within the ECP told Business Recorder that almost all political parties except Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have revised their demand of using this technology for upcoming elections.

According to details, there are around 80,000 polling stations in the country and the ECP would need about 0.6 million machines for the voting process if EVMs and BVMs are to be used in the election. The price for the units is Rs 120,000 (for electronic) and Rs 180,000 (for biometric), respectively.

The sources also revealed that the use of EVMs and BVMs in next general election is merely a proposal and is not really going to become a reality. This is due to two reasons, it is very unlikely that the government will release funds needed to buy this machinery and even if it does so, the ECP does not have ability to train its staff to handle and use it in such a short amount of time.

They further said that India took more than 20 years to initiate these electronic voting devices but various political parties of the country have begun campaigning for elections to be done using ballot papers.

The parliamentary committee on electoral reforms is considering using thumb impressions since they cannot be tampered and ECP can do this in collaboration with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi said that earlier every political party in the country was calling for use of EVMs in upcoming election but now the only reason they have backed out of this united demand is their personal interests. Alvi is leading the sub-committee which is responsible for evaluating EVMs usage in the next elections. He said that the ECP was responsible for this failure as it could not take a decision independently in this regard by amending its rules, as there was no need to amend the Constitution for the use of EVMs in the election.