ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday again criticized chief election commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja for opposing electoral reforms, including the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general polls.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside PM’s Advisor Dr Babar Awan, Railways Minister Azam Khan Swati said CEC Sultan Raja was speaking the opposition’s language to “mess around” with the government.
“Today, the CEC is speaking the opposition’s language and messing around with the government. We are standing as an iron wall so stop us if you can,” Swati added.
The Railways Minister also lashed out at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and asked how many notices had the body sent to Opposition leaders Maryam Nawaz and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The federal minister said the PTI-led government would make the election commission an independent institution, as he mentioned that several matters regarding the CEC’s appointment were still kept “secretive.”
He said the government had to swallow a “bitter pill” on the CEC’s appointment to preserve the sanctity of this ‘constitutional institution’. “I don’t want to and won’t reveal how CEC was appointed,” Swati added.
He questioned why the CEC had made no progress on pilot programmes as ordered previously by the Supreme Court or the parliament through the Elections Act 2017. “I again remind you Sikandar Sultan that only the one who accepts defeat, loses. Come and see whether the law and the Constitution are greater or your own being,” he added.
Govt ‘ready’ to speak to Opposition
Taking over the presser, Babar Awan said the government was moving forward in its electoral reforms, including the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting.
The advisor stated that perception was being built that PTI would try to rig the elections through EVMs in 2023, however, he said, the idea was of using the machines was first presented during PPP’s tenure.
“The electoral reforms are being made controversial,” he said, adding that the government was ready to extend an olive branch to the Opposition to work on the reforms together.
Awan said the Opposition wants the electoral reforms bill to be presented in a committee comprising of members from both houses — Senate and National Assembly. “The government is ready to do it.”
The advisor said he would request Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to form a committee in this regard, but he cast aspersions on the Opposition’s demand, as he feared that they would play “committee, committee” and not arrive at a conclusion.
