PESHAWAR: The Election Amendment Bill 2021, introduced by the government, was passed by a simple majority in the joint sitting of Parliament, despite strong opposition and criticism by the opposition.
Even before voting on the bill on Wednesday, the opposition had declared the bill ‘controversial’ and announced to challenge it in the court. After the first vote, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser announced that there were 221 votes in favour of the motion and 203 against, but the opposition senator, Taj Haider, challenged the count.
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The bill was moved by Advisor to the Prime Minister Babar Awan.
Under this bill, two amendments have been proposed in the Election Act of 2017 which are related to the use of electronic voting machines in elections and giving the right to vote to Pakistanis living abroad through internet. After the bill was passed, the opposition tore up copies and walked out of the house.
Earlier in his speech, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “If the controversial electoral reform bill is passed despite the objections of the opposition, we will not accept the next election from today.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has dubbed the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) as the “evil and vicious machine” while chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party announced to move court if the bill on EVM was passed from the parliament.
Sharif said that the PTI government wants to extend its power through this electronic voting machine. He said termed the EVM has been planned to steal votes in the next general elections as the PTI is unable to face public. He urged that Speaker to adjourn the session to hold comprehensive discussion on the electoral reforms. He said, “If the law of electronic voting machine was passed, it will incur an irreparable damage to Pakistan.”