ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Tuesday) has asserted that electronic voting was essential to ensure transparency in next general election and directed the authorities to prepare a feasibility report of the process on priority.
He made these remarks during the beginning of a session of the federal cabinet which was telecast live by state-run broadcasters. The Prime Minister once again expressed the commitment to bring in the latest technology to ensure transparent polls.
“We want next general election to be fair and transparent and thus want to initiate the e-voting process well ahead of time,” the premier said, adding that he want regular updates on the matter as well as giving the right of franchise to overseas Pakistanis.
He stated that elections in Pakistan should be similar to the US and cited the example of former US president Donald Trump who could not find any evidence of rigging despite all his efforts.
Quoting a “frightening report” by the Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (FACTI) panel, he regretted that every year $1,000 billion are laundered out of the poor countries to the rich countries.
He said that the ruling elites of such countries have to send the ill-gotten wealth abroad otherwise it becomes noticeable. “They do this by weakening the institutions responsible for monitoring money laundering,” he added.
He further said mega projects are also executed by such corrupt elements to get big kickbacks in return. “The people have to pay the price of this corruption in the form of inflation,” he added.
The Prime Minister said politicians including Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif through money-laundering transferred the national wealth to their bank accounts abroad.
“The powerful get NROs and deals while only the poor go to jail. A nation is destroyed when its ability to ensure justice is finished,” the premier concluded.
