NADRA ‘unhelpful’: Biometric machines may end up gathering rust

ECP cancels plan for their use in Karachi by-poll as pilot project

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday announced it will not be able to test biometric thumb verification machines in upcoming by-polls in Karachi as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has refrained to share voter data with the top election body.

The ECP had announced to test biometric machines for voters’ verification at PS-114 Karachi by-polls as a pilot project and to submit report in this regard to the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. The committee had to include a provision in law on use of this technology for general elections.

The ECP had purchased 100 biometric machines for a test run. However, the plan suffered a blow when NADRA declined to share data of thumbs and pictures of voters with the ECP.

By-polls in PS-114 are being held on July 9. The top elections body in a handout announced that since NADRA has not shared its data, it would not be able to go with its pilot project in PS-114.



“We wrote letters to NADRA on May 26. Sent reminders on June 7 and June 9, but did not get any response. Subsequently, we sent copies of our letters to secretary interior and secretary National Assembly seeking their intervention. But did not get response from any side,” ECP said in a statement.

Already several plans of the ECP for the next general elections are in jeopardy due to inordinate delay on part of parliament to pass a new set of laws to reform archaic election system of the country.

Parliamentary committee on electoral reforms that was constituted in August 2014 was supposed to recommend reforms in the election system and bring new laws within three months.

The committee headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is yet to complete its work and many of the proposed reforms have already become redundant – at least for the next elections scheduled for May 2018 – due to paucity of time.



With this setback, the ECP’s plan to use biometric machines to verify voters before they cast vote, seems to have been jeopardised. Meanwhile, the polls supervisory body has sought services of Pakistan Army and Rangers for security at PS-114.

“In view of the prevailing law and order situation as well as the requests made by the Returning Officer, …, the ECP…. has desired that Pakistan Rangers … may make necessary security arrangements… to conduct elections in a free, fair and transparent manner by deployment of adequate force,” says a notification issued by ECP.

The Pakistan Army troops will also be deployed in the said constituencies as 3rd tier responder. Any member of Pakistan Army and Rangers forces who is present or deployed under this order shall exercise powers under section 4 & 5 of Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), for the entire duration of deployment.

The officials deployed for security would be authorised to take necessary action including sending someone to jail after on the spot summary trial, adds the statement.