ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the government were coming closer and good news will be shared regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines in the next elections.
“It is a good thing that the election commission and the government are coming closer. The combative atmosphere is diminishing,” he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
Regarding the political situation, the interior minister said the PML-N will face further fissures in its ranks in the days ahead. Responding to PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s statement about the nest election, Rashid reaffirmed the elections will be fair and transparent as it was also the prime minister’s opinion.
However, regarding the PML-N president’s claim of politically burying the PTI in the 2023 elections, Rashid said: “Get prayers and worry about yourself. The fight for inheritance has started in your family and where it will go two years later.”
He predicted there would be three factions within the PML-N due to internal disputes and conflict two years later when a new political atmosphere would be present.
He said that Rs2 billion funds are being released to further upgrade the cyber security system to help induct technical people. He pointed out that there has been an increase in cyber threats with about 100,000 complaints received in his tenure.
The interior minister said it has also been decided to introduce e-passports in the country. He said a proposal has been sent to add 15 more countries to the list whose citizens will be provided visas on arrival including the United States, Canada, France and Iran.
Sheikh Rashid said those behind the cancellation of the visit of New Zealand cricket team will be exposed soon and FIA is working on it.