Pakistan

PTI to fulfil another election promise today: Fawad Chaudhry

EVMs and online voting for overseas Pakistanis, a milestone in strengthening democracy, says Fawad

News Desk November 17, 2021

Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry addressing a press conference in Islamabad on November 9, 2021. PHOTO: APP

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will fulfil another election promise when the parliament today will pass the law granting overseas Pakistanis the right to vote.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the minister said that the "electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voting law for overseas Pakistanis will be a milestone in strengthening Pakistan's democracy."

انشاللہ آج پارلیمان اوْورسیز پاکستانیوں کو انتخابات میں ووٹ ڈالنے کی سہولت کا قانون پاس کر کے تحریک انصاف ایک اور انتخابی وعدے کی تکمیل کرے گی، الیکٹرونک ووٹنگ مشین اور اوورسیز پاکستانیوں کے ووٹ کا قانون پاکستان میں جمہوریت کو مضبوط بنانے کیلئے سنگ میل ثابت ہوں گے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 17, 2021

During his election campaign, Prime Minister Imran Khan had pledged to give overseas Pakistanis a "greater stake” in the country's electoral process, and one of the goals the ruling party had set to achieve was ensuring their voting right.

Last week, PM Imran had also said that the government’s upcoming bill on the use of EVMs was “not for vested interests, but a step towards a free and fair next general election”.

The voting contest between the government and the opposition during the joint sitting today is expected to be a close one as the treasury has a combined lead of only two votes over the opposition.

According to the data obtained from political parties, the ruling party and its allies have a total of 221 voters, including 179 MNAs and 42 senators.

The opposition, on the other hand, has a total of 219 members, including 162 MNAs and 57 senators.

Of the total 341 MNAs, one seat is vacant in the National Assembly. Of the 99 Senate members, one seat is suspended. This brings the combined total to 440 voters.