Islamabad, 20 June 2022 (TDI): The President of Pakistan refused the amendment to the electronic voting machine and overseas Pakistani voting.
The President of Pakistan, President Arif Alvi stated that for more than a decade, he has been pursuing the subject of Electronic Voting Machines and Overseas Pakistanis Voting.
President returns the elections amendment EVM/OP Bill unsigned.
While expressing himself, the President said that it has been very painful to me personally as President of Pakistan to not sign a bill passed by Majlis-e-Shoora. Therefore, I must record my reasons for posterity. pic.twitter.com/6iZEapXAXm— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 19, 2022
The subject of overseas Pakistani voting was his agenda with various governments, in Parliament, and before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Even though the Constitution, which he supports, will become law, he has not signed the Bill and returned it to the Parliament of Pakistan.
Further, he remarked that this bill is anti-progress and backward. Governments will have to choose whether to let the past drag Pakistan down.
In the letter, he wrote about Article 75 (2), which states that when the President returns a Bill to the Majlis-e Shoora (Parliament), the returned Bill is examined in a joint session by the Parliament.
In addition to this, he added that as the President of Pakistan, it has been very distressing for him to not sign a measure passed by Majlis-e-Shoora. He recorded his arguments for posterity. In the details, he referred the Bill back to Parliament.
He stated that he is convinced that technology today, particularly EVMs when used wisely, contains many solutions.
Electronic Voting Machines
Technology may also increase transparency, make elections inclusive of our overseas Pakistanis’ votes, boost trust, and minimize division, allowing us to attain our elusive goal of free and fair elections.
More than that, the President wants Pakistan to jump into the world of the future, solving today’s challenges not only through the lens and experiences of the past.
But also via newer and better scientific methodologies that are accessible, or even ‘birthing’ today. He stated that he believes that this cannot happen without cross-party cooperation and wide stakeholder participation.
In the end, he stated that many such decisions will continue to confront us, and history has shown that those who make the correct judgments ‘grow’. While those who do not, squander possibilities that hinder their route to greatness.
