Bill on electronic voting machines deferred — but only temporarily
Adviser to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan noted Opposition wants to discuss the matter with the NA Speaker
November 17, 2021
ISLAMABAD: The PTI government on Wednesday deferred voting on a bill related to the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the electoral process, noting that the Opposition wanted to discuss the matter before voting on the matter.
However, according to Geo News correspondent Asif Bashir Chaudhry, the voting was only temporarily put off to allow the Opposition to address the parliament and was later resumed, after which the government was successful in passing amendments to the Election Act, 2017, in the form of Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, allowing the use of electronic voting machines and granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.
The passage of the bills was part of the government’s heavy legislative agenda for today’s joint session.
As soon as National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser handed over the microphone to Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan to present the bills the Opposition started making noise.
Live coverage of joint session
Amid the ruckus, Awan requested the NA Speaker to postpone voting on the bills, noting that since the Opposition wanted to talk to the Speaker on the matter, it ought to be deferred.
Other parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were present for the joint sitting of the two house of Parliament.
‘Evil and vicious machines’
During his address, Shahbaz slammed the government for bulldozing the legislative process and called electronic voting machines "evil, vicious machines".
"I have received your letter. We have carefully considered your letter and given you the full answer. I commend the opposition members for not coming under government pressure," he told the Speaker.
Shahbaz said that the government and its allies want to bulldoze the bills and said the government was not being sincere in creating a consensus on electoral reforms.
