The Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday categorically said that the government’s upcoming bill on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was “not for vested interests, but a step towards a free and fair next general election”.
He said the beneficiaries of the corrupt system would however oppose the electoral reforms by any means for their vested interests.
The prime minister expressed the views shortly before Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry announced that the joint session for the passage of the controversial Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, had been postponed.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
Imran said the “mafia” and the “product of corruption” desired status-quo of the polling system.
He urged the parliamentarians to make the government’s move successful, considering it a ‘jihad’ (fight) against corruption.
“The objective of the electoral reforms is to uphold the spirit of democracy and give the coming generations a system based on the morality of truth and honesty,” he said.
He recalled joining politics 25 years ago to bring about a positive change in society and make the country a socio-welfare state.
The prime minister stressed that the 166-day sit-in of his party was also against rigging of polls, besides the demand for recounting of votes of four constituencies.
He regretted the practice of bribery witnessed in Senate polls was a shameful act on part of politicians, who opposed the proposal of an open ballot but quashed morality for vested interests.
Read: Allies have ‘concerns’ over EVM bill
He said public representatives should lead with their examples rather than get involved in corruption.
The prime minister said the purpose of introducing the electronic voting machines in the country was to ensure transparent elections. He regretted that the previous governments made no effort to make the electoral process free and transparent.
On the occasion, the prime minister also urged the opposition parties to support electoral reforms as it is a matter of national interest and hoped the Election Commission of Pakistan would play its constitutional role in this regard.
Thanking parties allied to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the prime minister asked them to play their due role in building the nation.
Three of the PTI's allies have expressed reservations about recognising the electronic voting machine (EVM) bill.
PTI sources have said they had accepted all demands of the coalition partners and they were unaware of what their concerns were now.
However, they added that grievances were common in political alliances and it was hoped that the coalition partners would support the legislation on transparent elections.
Last week, PM Imran had tried to take the government’s coalition partners into confidence on the convening of a joint session of parliament for legislation regarding electoral reforms and other important issues.
Later in the day, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had confirmed that the premier had sought the support of the allies for electoral reforms, which included the use of EVMs and giving roughly nine million overseas Pakistani the right to vote in the next general elections.
“We [the government] presented 49-point electoral reform idea before the allies,” the minister said, adding that further briefings would be given to the coalition partners in this regard. “We have sought their support for the electoral reforms agenda and they have graciously agreed,” he had said.
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