LAHORE: Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Shahbaz Gill has reiterated that the next general elections will be conducted through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), “no matter we win or lose the polls”.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore today (Sunday), the special assistant accused previous governments of rigging the general elections. “Everyone knows that how the PML-N used to win elections while it was in power,” he added.
He said that now Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was ruling the country and Pakistan would change now under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Referring to e-voting, Shahbaz Gill said there was a long list of countries where elections were being held through EVMs.
“The Prime Minister, through the austerity measures, saved Rs 520 million in three years under the head of office expenses, while about Rs 570 million under the residence head as PM Imran Khan lives in his own house and also pays the utility bills,” he asserted.
He pointed out that the premier was so sincere with the country that he could not even think of misusing a single penny of the public money as he has no camp office. “We will save almost Rs 1.5 billion in five years through austerity measures and that money would be used for upgradation of 100 to 150 schools from primary to middle class,” he announced.
Shahbaz Gill said that overseas Pakistanis would be given right to vote at all costs. He said, “Today our remittances were more than exports so credit for this goes to overseas Pakistanis.”
He said that 95 percent votes of overseas Pakistanis were with Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that the PML-N should not create any hurdle in giving right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis.
He appreciated the efforts of Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry for paving the way for the use of EVMs and added that 600 EVMs would be ready in coming few months.
To a question, he said that the government was thankful to Allah Almighty and it was due to our love for Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that Pakistan faced less losses due to coronavirus pandemic, compared with other countries.
