ISLAMABAD: The government deferred voting on a bill related to the inclusion of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the electoral process amid opposition protests during a joint sitting of Parliament.
The EVM bill was part of the government’s legislative agenda for a joint session.
As the session began today, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser handed over the microphone to the Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs, Babar Awan.
The PM’s advisor requested the NA Speaker to postpone the voting on the Bill on EVMs, observing that since the opposition wants to talk to the Speaker on the matter, it should be deferred.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, Leader of Opposition Shahbaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other MPs were present in the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament.
‘Wicked and Vicious Machines’
During his address, PML-N president and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif slammed the government for bulldozing the legislative process and called electronic voting machines “evil, vicious machines”.
He told the speaker, “I have received your letter. We have carefully considered your letter and have given you a complete reply. I appreciate the opposition members for not coming under pressure from the government.”
Shahbaz said the government and its allies wanted to bulldoze the bills and added that the government was not serious in building a consensus on electoral reforms.
‘Respect your position’
Addressing Speaker Asad Qaiser, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto began his speech by requesting to “respect your chair”, “respect your position” and “respect the House”.
He reminded the speaker that he is the custodian of the National Assembly of Pakistan and had agreed in writing with the opposition that whatever legislation would be brought would be done by consensus.
He said that today a united opposition is standing in front of the House.
Bilawal said, “If we all together make the law, the next election would have been transparent.”
Speaking about EVMs, he said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also rejected it, and added that the electoral body had raised 37 serious objections to the machine.
He said that the government is making the next election controversial and has given an ultimatum that they will not accept the next election if the bill for EVMs is passed.
Bilawal said that he will stand with the ECP. “As long as ECP has reservation, we have reservation,” Bilawal said.
‘Government wants to bring transparent system for elections’
Claiming credit for bringing transparency in the country, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his electoral reforms are aimed at protecting the election process from being stolen and asked the opposition to vote in favor of related bills.
The External Affairs Minister said that questions have always been raised on the elections after 1970. He said that the time has come to correct the direction and ensure transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
Qureshi said that the government on its part has been contacting opposition parties from time to time on electoral reforms. He said that we repeatedly tried to picket the opposition parties on the electronic voting machine. He said that the purpose of introducing EVMs is to bury the crooked thinking and crooked mindset of imposing governments.
The External Affairs Minister said that PTI and its allies are completely united and have a majority to pass the Electoral Reform Bill.