ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission on Pakistan on Thursday announced that it has not taken any decision yet on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming local bodies election or general election.
The ECP rebuffed the perception that it is against the use of the EVMs, however, said that it has formulated as many as three committees to make a decision in that regard.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has decided to pass a Local Bodies Act – that calls for its election to be held under the EVMs. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in his press talk has also reiterated that the coming polls in Punjab and national election will be held under it.
Read more: Punjab local bodies polls to be held through EVM, announces Fawad
“The government will help the ECP in whatever help is needed to conduct elections under the EVMs,” he said. “There is a wrong perception in the media that the election will be expensive under the EVMs, it will cost exactly the same amount as any other election, it will make the process more timely and smooth.”
The information minister said that the government has decided to hold the Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa polls on December 19. “In Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa election, there will be a contest between 37,752 candidates on 17 seats.”
