ECP can’t allow PTI access to its main server, SC told

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declined the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) to have access to the voters’ list system saying being a constitutional body it was not bound under any law to allow access to the system.

The ECP, on Tuesday, submitted its reply in a petition filed in the Supreme Court by PTI chief election commissioner Tasneem Noornai seeking access to the ECP main server to verify its members’ details before the intra-party elections.

It further contended that tampering with or changing in the record could be made if access to the voters’ list was allowed, adding that it could also affect the transparent elections process.Allowing access to its main server is tantamount to interference in its work, the ECP submitted. The constitutional body prayed to the court to dismiss the application of PTI seeking access to the voters’ list for not being maintainable.

The ECP however, contended whatever details the PTI needed could be collected through mobile while sending text message at 8300.In its petition, the PTI had sought access to the ECP server as it had pleaded that the party’s experience of registering their voters by filling cards had been unpleasant.

It contended that prospective candidates had, at times, taken data from information available on hard copies of the ECP’s electoral list and faked their membership details.

PTI has decided to register their voters via cell phones on the basis of ‘one phone one vote’, and asked them to submit their names and CNIC numbers, the petition had further contended.

It had claimed that the law does not prohibit the ECP to allow access to its servers for verifying voters’ details. The party says it is not asking for data that is classified or sensitive.

The PTI had requested the court to direct the ECP to help the party so that its efforts to hold credible intra-party elections do not go waste.