Double standards

The use of Electronic Voting Machines ( EVMs) doesn’t suit opposition parties at all because that system stops individuals from rigging the elections. These opposition parties’ habit is to rig the elections and rule the vulnerable people of Pakistan. It’s an open secret that without rigging in the general elections it’s completely impossible for opposition parties to come back to the corridors of power (“Govt fails to convince opposition on use of EVMs,” Sept.7, Gulf Today).  

The government failed to convince the opposition on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs.

The government had been insisting on the use of EVMs to ensure the holding of “fair and transparent” polls in the country.

The Senate panel met under the chairmanship of Taj Haider belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party. The Ministry of Science and Technology, while briefing the participants of the meeting, maintained that the EVM will have a dedicated control unit which would help in its functioning.

The government had been insisting on the use of EVMs to ensure the holding of “fair and transparent” polls in the country.

It’s no surprise that the opposition parties which protested against the 2018 polls, calling it rigged general elections, are now opposing the use of Electronic Voting Machines in 2023 general elections, because the old electoral system suits them.

There is a history of rigged general elections in Pakistan. Political parties who lose the general elections, blame the whole system, including the judiciary and establishment, for being involved in rigging. There is no doubt that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is an ‘alien’ in the corrupt system of Pakistan. Except Imran Khan every political party is happy to conduct the next general elections on the same failed system.

Imran Khan believes in fair and free elections that will be acceptable for everyone in the country. Khan and his government are trying their level best to address the important issue of fair and free elections in the best interests of the people and Pakistan.

Qazi Sultan — By email