ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday called for the Federal Investigative Agency’s (FIA) help in regards to technology that could ensure full transparency in the Senate elections.
During an emergency meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan as the chair, the use of technology was discussed.
Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry, Shafqat Mahmood, Shahzad Akbar and Babar Awan had called on the Chief Election Commissioner and had offered “technological support” in regards to the Senate election.
The government delegation urged the Election Commission to figure out a way for ensuring transparency in the Senate polls in the light of the Supreme Court opinion.
“[We told the ECP that] whatever technology [you need] we have it,” said Fawad while talking to reporters after the meeting. He said if the ECP used the offered technology, then the ballot papers would be printed “within two hours”
“If we can print currency [within record time] then we can also print 1,500 ballot papers,” said Fawad Chaudhry. He said the Supreme Court, in its opinion, had maintained that votes will be identifiable for the ECP but they will remain “secretive” for the political parties.
“The PTI feels that this SC decision validates our stance and takes it forward against the environment of corruption with regard to the Senate polls, which had been developed in the past, must be eliminated. And, what the SC said is that such measures should be taken, which should not let the corruption mar the poll exercise,” he maintained.
Babar Awan said the entire power went to the words under Article 218 i.e. to organize and conduct the elections, which the Election Commission does. He said Imran Khan had been striving for corruption-free elections from the beginning.
“He wanted that at least once there should be no market of conscience-selling during the Senate elections,” he said.
“Paragraphs 3, 5 and 6 of the opinion are very important where the apex court has highlighted the stance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI),” he said talking to the media outside the Election Commission of Pakistan.
