ISLAMABAD: The federal government Thursday has excused from providing Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the local body elections in Islamabad.
It may be recalled that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had requested to provide the machines manufactured by the Ministry of Science and Technology. ECP had shown concern over the purchase of EVMs from private companies. ECP had demanded 3900 EVMs from the Ministry for the local body elections in Islamabad.
According to sources, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has responded to the letter by ECP.
In the response it was stated that the Ministry of Science and Technology could not manufacture the machines itself, the model of the machine that had been represented was manufactured by a private company. No electronic machine had been purchased yet.
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It is the prerogative of the Election Commission to purchase machines under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PAPRA) rules. ECP should start purchasing machines for the coming elections under the current law by PAPRA. ECP will be provided space in PCSIR for the EVMs project.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, ECP has agreed to all legal cooperation in the matter of EVMs.
