President Arif Alvi directs authorities to expedite process of online voting for overseas Pakistanis

BY HANEEN ABBAS

ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan is mulling to form an Overseeing Committee to supervise the entire process of biometric identification of voters, electronic voting machines and online voting for Overseas Pakistanis.

This proposal came under discussion during a meeting to review the progress on overseas voting, biometric identification and electronic voting system in the country, at Aiwan-e-Sadr today. President of Pakistan chaired the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Narcotics Control, Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Secretary IT & Telecommunication, Mr. Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Dr. Akhtar Nazir, and Secretary to the President, Mr. Tariq Najeeb Najmi.

Secretary ECP, Dr. Akhtar Nazir, briefed the meeting about the measures, taken by ECP, to introduce Electronic Voting Machines, biometric identification and Online Voting System for Overseas Pakistanis.

The meeting discussed various proposals to expedite the process. While highlighting the significance of change and that identification of persons during Ehsas distribution, there is a need to ensure it during elections. The President said that the existing voting regime needed improvement in view of its vulnerabilities.

He asked the ECP to expedite the process in all areas particularly overseas voting that has already been decided upon by Supreme Court of Pakistan. The meeting proposed to constitute a committee of experts to guide and identify the issues, pertaining to E-voting and proposed possible solutions.

It also recommended to form an Overseeing Committee to supervise the entire process of biometric identification of voters, electronic voting machines and online voting for Overseas Pakistanis.