Panel discusses holding of free, fair polls by using technology

ISLAMABAD: In order to finalize the use of technology in the next general elections, the committee headed by Minister of State for IT Anusha Rahman has deliberated on different options, including a proposal to the ECP to place the Election Management System (EMS) to ensure rigging-free elections in Pakistan.
The state-of-the-art EMS will cost billions of rupees to the national exchequer whereby Islamabad will be able to replicate the holding of next polls on the pattern of modern world.
It now depends upon the government and the ECP what options they choose which are going to be tabled by the committee in the next few weeks.
“First, we will work out different options, conduct their cost-benefit analysis and then their experience of usage in other parts of the world before the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms,” said an official.
“At least, two more meetings are required to come up with technology solution to ensure free and fair elections, as the committee is all set to give different options for placing Biometric Verification System (BVS) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at 70,000 polling stations all over the country,” official sources confirmed to The News on Friday.
In case of BVS and EVMs, the government will have to procure one-third backup machines to provide alternative equipment in case of any machine going out of order.
“The committee has studied Indian model where they used low capacity EVMs in their elections but now they are developing their trials as well as placing BVS to make elections transparent,” said the official.
According to a statement issued by the IT Ministry, Anusha Rahman convened a meeting of all stakeholders including solution vendors and technical experts from MoIT, ECP and PTA to apprise them of requirements for technical solution encompassing all elements of electronic voting in Islamabad today.
The IT ministry while giving background indicated the need for a solid solution to positively demonstrate to the Electoral Reforms Committee the practicality, integrity, cost effectiveness, simplicity and adequacy of the latest technical solution proposed for carrying out voting through electronic voting.
This, she added, was necessary so that the EVMs could be used to make the electoral process more transparent in future.
Therefore these machines should be consistent with the requirements and specifications of the ECP and should not only verify the identity of the voter, but also ensure flawless casting of vote with accounting mechanism.
Live demonstration of EVM and biometric device components manufactured by different players was seen by the participants while it was decided that formal full-scale demonstrations will be set for the next week.
As a result of the stakeholder consultation process a consolidated report on way forward will be presented to the Parliamentary Committee.
The ECP will take all necessary actions to make provisions in the electoral process on the recommendations approved by the Parliamentary Committee.
Additional Secretary IT Babar Hassan Bharwana, Member Telecom Mudassar Hussain, MD TIP and senior officials from the ECP were also present in the meeting.