Electoral reforms committee approves full fiscal autonomy of ECP

ISLAMABAD: The electoral reforms committee, formed to bring reforms in the country’s prevailing electoral system, on Tuesday approved full fiscal autonomy to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The decision was taken in a meeting of the committee, chaired here by MNA Zahid Hamid, who heads the sub-committee on election reforms.

The meeting was briefed over measures to overcome shortcomings and irregularities in the current electoral system in light of recently issued report of the Judicial Commission, formed to probe rigging allegations in the 2013 general elections.

The sub-committee would begin article-wise approval of the draft of the new act from Wednesday.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) briefed the meeting over biometric system and electronic voting machines and presented its recommendation over the issue.

Speaking to the media later, Hamid said an amount of Rs125 million was required to purchase machines relating to biometric system.

Meanwhile, NADRA officials believe that in order to deploy biometric system, they would have to upgrade their own system also. They say billions of rupees were needed to introduce the system of electronic voting machines in the country.