ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected the government’s proposed electoral reforms, including the use of electronic voting machines (EVM), calling such measures unilateral and in contradiction with the Constitution.
Talking to journalists following Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) meeting in Islamabad, the former premier accused the government of planning to steal the next elections through electoral reforms.
“All the parties in opposition alliance have once again rejected the unilateral electoral reforms as they are tantamount to rid people of their freedom of speech,” he added.
Abbasi further said that the opposition alliance plans to present a white paper on the current government’s performance over the past three years in order to expose its “corruption, political persecution and the flawed accountability process”.
“The country’s so-called accountability process is an attempt to mask the corruption of the government and its ministers”, the PML-N leader said, adding that there had been attempts to rig all elections.
He also announced that the PDM would hold rallies countrywide and its schedule for forthcoming public gatherings will be revealed after being approved by the PDM’s executive committee on August 28.
In response to a question regarding Afghanistan’s situation, he said Pakistan’s policy on the war-torn neighbouring country can only be decided after a debate in the parliament.
The statement from the senior PML-N leader comes after Prime Minister Imran Khan, earlier this week, invited the opposition to hold talks with the government on electoral reforms after it decided in principle to use EVMs in the next general elections in 2023.
