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ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain says the next general election
will take place in Pakistan in 2023 under a new mechanism to ensure
transparency in elections.
He was talking to the media along with Minister for Science and
Technology Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, Adviser to PM on Parliamentary
Affairs Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan and Adviser to PM on Interior and
Accountability Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar after having a meeting
with the officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in
Islamabad on Monday.
The Minister for Information said the government is discussing the
features of this new mechanism with the ECP and also presenting the
same at the Parliament.
He said today, they discussed with the ECP officials the proposed
legislation for electoral reforms, electronic voting machines, biometric
system and i-voting.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the government had proposed forty-nine
amendments in the Electoral Reforms Bill tabled in the National
Assembly in October last year, and they shared its details with the
ECP.
He said it was decided today that the Ministry of Science and
Technology will present a demonstration on the EVM to the ECP, and
then the Election Commission can appoint a consultant to get his
opinion on the matter.
The Minister said the PTI government has promised to provide right to
franchise to overseas Pakistanis, who have an important role in the
national development. He said a report has been presented to the ECP
in this regard.
Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz said it is the vision of
Prime Minister to ensure transparency in the elections to strengthen
the democracy.
He said only the genuinely elected representatives should come to the
parliament.
The Minister said his ministry is working day and night on the election
voting machines.
Responding to a question, Shibli Faraz said Election Commission of
Pakistan is an independent institution and the government fully
respects it.
Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said the government has
sufficient majority in both the houses of the parliament to get the
electoral reforms bill passed. He, however, said we want to take along
the opposition parties and will welcome their suggestions on the
matter.
The Adviser said we want technology based elections to ensure
complete fairness and transparency in the next general elections.
