Ensure transparency in I-voting: Dr Arif Alvi

Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has urged that the secrecy of vote and transparency in the I-voting (internet-voting) process must be ensured while developing electronic voting system (EVS). He gave these remarks whilechairing a meeting to review progress on the EVS, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary IT and Telecommunication, Mr. ShoaibAhmed Siddiqui, Secretary to President, Mr. Tariq Najeeb Najmi, and ChairmanNADRA, Mr. Usman Yousaf Mobin. Officials from Election Commission of Pakistan and NADRA were also present.

The President was briefed about the steps being taken for establishing an effectiveand reliable I-Voting system for overseas Pakistanis. It was apprised that allmeasures were being taken for the development of a fool-proof voting system.

ThePresident was also briefed about the technical efficacy, secrecy and safety aspectsof the system. The EVS being developed had been pilot tested in the bye-elections,the meeting was informed, and an independent evaluation of the system would alsobe conducted.

The meeting underscored the primacy of putting the system to testprior to poll-day to detect and overcome any technical issues. President Arif Alvi remarked that I-voting system should be transparent and peopleshould have complete confidence in it.

He also highlighted the importance ofmaintaining voters’ secrecy, and fulfilling all the legal requirements. President Alvistressed that the system should be efficient possessing the technical capacity tocater the large number of overseas voters on poll-day.

The President directed that a committee of experts to be formed to assess thetechnical capacity and reliability of the system and to propose possible solutions.The report along with recommendations would be presented before the Parliament.