PPP minister objects to electronic voting

Ismail Rahu claims that electronic voting machines have failed in many countries

KARACHI:

Sindh Universities and Boards Minister Ismail Rahu termed the use of electronic voting machines tantamount to holding the elections hostage and claimed on Sunday that the ‘vote-stealing’ government has only succeeded in creating a new controversy.

In a statement issued on the day, Rahu asked leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which leads the coalition government in the Centre, to explain who would guarantee that votes would not be stolen via electronic machines.

When half of the country’s population does not know how to operate an ATM machine, how will they operate an electronic voting machine, asked Rahu.

The general elections in the country should be transparent, said the Pakistan Peoples Party leader, adding that electronic voting machines could also be stolen. He asked whether the ruling party was running away from the election or from ballot papers.

He claimed that the PTI government did not come to power through ballot papers and its leaders do not believe in ballot papers. Electronic voting machines have failed in many countries, claimed Rahu.