ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Omar Hamid Khan on Thursday said even though the bill regarding the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been passed, he was not sure that electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used in the next general election.
“It took India 20 years and Brazil 22 years to get themselves on the machines. It will also take us a while to get these machines up and running,” Omar Hamid Khan said, briefing a meeting of the members of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice, chaired by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Riaz Fatyana.
However, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he was also very happy with the electronic voting machine because technology has created so many conveniences in the world and there could be no more foolish thinking than not using technology today.
He said that in 2008, the Election Commission had proposed electronic voting machine but after many years it was not possible because those who benefited from the old system in this country, would never allow this to happen. He explained that 1.5 million votes were lost in the last election but if there was an electronic voting machine, those votes would have been cast in the election.