PTI demands probe into RTS 'failure'
In calling-attention notice Azam Swati seeks to fix responsibility
In calling-attention notice Azam Swati seeks to fix responsibility. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
After the opposition, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also sought a thorough investigation into the failure of the Result Transmission System on election day in a bid to ascertain the reasons and those responsible for software’s breakdown.
PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati on Sunday demanded a probe into the causes behind alleged failure of the much-talked-about Results Transmission System (RTS) on election day.
Through a calling attention notice submitted in the Senate Secretariat, the senator from Swat sought to fix responsibility of alleged malfunction of the RTS system on July 25.
All major opposition parties have cried foul, saying they were deprived of the crushing victory they were confidently expecting. One of their major complaints against the Election Commission of Pakistan is its failure to conduct endurance test of the system before deploying it in the crucial exercise.
The ECP had rejected the allegation of foul play and said the general elections were held in a fair and transparent manner across the country, and that no substantial evidence of any wrongdoing had been received by the commission.
ECP seeks probe into RTS failure on polling day
An ECP spokesperson, while talking to a private news channel, referred to the fault in the RTS as ‘technological failure’.
He claimed that several pilots of the system had been successful but it could not bear the load of data of tens of millions of voters on election day.
He said the results in cities like Karachi and Lahore faced delays as all presiding officers had turned up before the Returning Officers en masse.
Swati has recommended that the inquiry also ascertain whether the alleged failure had an impact on the election results.
"Throughout the day, the election process was carried out in a fair and transparent manner. How is it that at the time of transmitting the results, the system stopped functioning?" the PTI leader has questioned in the notice.
Moreover, he demanded a probe into the parties responsible for the system's supposed malfunctioning and urged that the Senate should be apprised of the investigation's findings.
Senator Swati told The Express Tribune he had no doubt on transparency and fairness of recently held general elections.
“Elections were totally fair and transparent. I have not seen such transparent elections even in the USA during the time I spent there,” Swati said, adding that failure of the RTS had caused unnecessary doubts in the minds of people and provided an opportunity to the opposition to cry foul and stigmatized PTI’s clear-cut victory.
Elections 2018: ROs predict possible failure of Results Transmission System
“It was just a technical failure. And it is because some people did not undertake their assigned work in a professional manner,” Swati added.
He said the PTI wants that those who were behind it should be exposed and taken to the task.
The ECP had already ordered an inquiry into the RTS fiasco.
In a letter written to the Cabinet Division secretary, the ECP directed him to constitute an inquiry commission consisting of technical experts from the National Telecommunication and Information Technology Security Board (NTISB) and the Pakistan Telecommuni¬cation Authority (PTA) to probe into the RTS episode during the conduct of polls on July 25 and afterwards.
Meanwhile, both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had called the proposed inquiry commission on the RTS mere eyewash, claiming that its terms of reference (ToRs) are vague and fall short of addressing the core issue — did the system really crash or not?
After the opposition, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also sought a thorough investigation into the failure of the Result Transmission System on election day in a bid to ascertain the reasons and those responsible for software’s breakdown.
PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati on Sunday demanded a probe into the causes behind alleged failure of the much-talked-about Results Transmission System (RTS) on election day.
Through a calling attention notice submitted in the Senate Secretariat, the senator from Swat sought to fix responsibility of alleged malfunction of the RTS system on July 25.
All major opposition parties have cried foul, saying they were deprived of the crushing victory they were confidently expecting. One of their major complaints against the Election Commission of Pakistan is its failure to conduct endurance test of the system before deploying it in the crucial exercise.
The ECP had rejected the allegation of foul play and said the general elections were held in a fair and transparent manner across the country, and that no substantial evidence of any wrongdoing had been received by the commission.
ECP seeks probe into RTS failure on polling day
An ECP spokesperson, while talking to a private news channel, referred to the fault in the RTS as ‘technological failure’.
He claimed that several pilots of the system had been successful but it could not bear the load of data of tens of millions of voters on election day.
He said the results in cities like Karachi and Lahore faced delays as all presiding officers had turned up before the Returning Officers en masse.
Swati has recommended that the inquiry also ascertain whether the alleged failure had an impact on the election results.
"Throughout the day, the election process was carried out in a fair and transparent manner. How is it that at the time of transmitting the results, the system stopped functioning?" the PTI leader has questioned in the notice.
Moreover, he demanded a probe into the parties responsible for the system's supposed malfunctioning and urged that the Senate should be apprised of the investigation's findings.
Senator Swati told The Express Tribune he had no doubt on transparency and fairness of recently held general elections.
“Elections were totally fair and transparent. I have not seen such transparent elections even in the USA during the time I spent there,” Swati said, adding that failure of the RTS had caused unnecessary doubts in the minds of people and provided an opportunity to the opposition to cry foul and stigmatized PTI’s clear-cut victory.
Elections 2018: ROs predict possible failure of Results Transmission System
“It was just a technical failure. And it is because some people did not undertake their assigned work in a professional manner,” Swati added.
He said the PTI wants that those who were behind it should be exposed and taken to the task.
The ECP had already ordered an inquiry into the RTS fiasco.
In a letter written to the Cabinet Division secretary, the ECP directed him to constitute an inquiry commission consisting of technical experts from the National Telecommunication and Information Technology Security Board (NTISB) and the Pakistan Telecommuni¬cation Authority (PTA) to probe into the RTS episode during the conduct of polls on July 25 and afterwards.
Meanwhile, both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had called the proposed inquiry commission on the RTS mere eyewash, claiming that its terms of reference (ToRs) are vague and fall short of addressing the core issue — did the system really crash or not?