EVM test in NA-4: Voting set to switch from manual to machine

ECP notifies troop deployment for Peshawar by-poll

PESHAWAR: For the first time in the country’s history, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will use electronic voting machines (EVM) on an experimental basis during the by-election for the National Assembly seat NA-4, Peshawar, scheduled for October 26.

ECP Information Technology Director General Muhammad Khezar Aziz said at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday that around 100 machines would be used at 35 of the 269 polling stations on an experimental basis under Section 103 of the Elections Act, 2017.



He said the introduction of the machine would be a great development in the country’s election system. He also demonstrated how the voters would use the machine and said technical staff and other personnel responsible had been trained in this regard.

The official said the technology would help presiding officers send the results of polling stations to returning officers who would process the details on computer and forward them to the ECP without any delay. Thus, he added, the ECP would be able to receive the results from polling stations in a very short time after the implementation of the system.

Meanwhile, the ECP issued a notification for deployment of army personnel inside and outside the polling stations for the by-election. The district returning officer (DRO) had requested the deployment of army to ensure security in view of the law and order situation in the areas where the polling will be held.

The troops will be responsible for transporting ballot papers from the Pakistan Printing Corporation Press in Islamabad to the DRO’s office in Peshawar and for their security till the completion of the election.

According to the ECP, the troops will be deployed from October 24 to 27 and exercise powers under the Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 during the four days.



Every army official deployed inside or outside a polling station will exercise the powers of a first class magistrate on the polling day. The personnel will report to the presiding officer any malpractice or irregularity they observe inside or outside a polling station and act in accordance with his instructions.

In case the presiding officer does not act to prevent the commission of any reported irregularity or malpractice, the security staff will inform their official in charge and act according to the powers designated to them by the ECP.

The NA-4 seat fell vacant after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Gulzar Khan had died of heart attack.