The Election Commission of Pakistan told the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms on Monday that in the absence of a permanent Chief Election Commissioner it cannot give a final opinion on whether the electronic voting machines (EVMs) should be used or not to make the electoral process transparent in future. Briefing reporters after a meeting of the sub-committee of the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, its convener Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid said the meeting had been informed that the use of EVMs would not alone ensure a perfect and transparent election. He said about 270,000 EVMs would be required for a general election and each would cost between Rs60,000 and Rs70,000.
He was of the opinion that billions should not be spent on an imperfect system, but said the committee would not make a decision till it received the ECP’s recommendation.
ECP tells Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms that permanent Chief Election ommissioner’s presence was needed to decide the matter
Mr Hamid said the committee was told that the EVM would not ensure 100 per cent transparency in the election and the system was vulnerable to hacking.
Live demonstration of EVM and biometric devices manufactured by a UK-based company and two local institutions was made before the meeting.
Full Article: ECP says it cannot give final opinion on electronic voting – Pakistan – DAWN.COM.