President Dr. Arif Alvi once again returned the election amendment bill on Sunday regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting for overseas Pakistanis, saying that the reversals proposed were “regressive” in nature.
The bill, passed by the National Assembly (NA) and Senate along with NAB amendments last month, seeks to reverse the controversial changes made in election laws by the previous PTI government.
After approval from both houses, the president’s signature was required for it to become a law.
Dr. Alvi, however, sent back the bills. But, the government convened Senate and NA’s joint sitting on June 9 to consider the bills and approved them.
Read more: To bypass the president, Government plans to pass the NAB, Election Bills through a joint session
The bills were then sent to the president once again for assent, per the procedure. They will still be considered approved if Dr. Alvi doesn’t sign them within ten days.
In a statement issued by the president’s Secretariat, Dr. Alvi said that he had not signed the bill “despite the fact, that the Constitution that he upholds will make it into law,” referring to Article 75 (2) of the Constitution.
The article states that “When the President has returned a Bill to the Majlis-e Shoora (Parliament), it shall be reconsidered by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in joint sitting and, if it is again passed, with or without amendment, by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), by the votes of the majority of the members of both Houses present and voting, it shall be deemed for the purposes of the Constitution to have been passed by both Houses and shall be presented to the President, and the President shall give his assent within ten days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given.”
He said that it was “very painful” for him as the head of state “to not sign a bill passed by Majlis Shoora [Parliament]” and wanted to “record his reasons for posterity.”
President’s Secretariat stated, “The President said that besides the proposed laws’ regressive nature that he pointed out in detail when he referred the bill back to Parliament, he strongly believes that technology today, especially with EVMs when used judiciously contains many solutions that reduce the impact of confusion, discord and accusations in our ‘ever-marred’ and challenged election processes.”
“Technology can also improve transparency, make elections inclusive with the vote of our Overseas Pakistanis, build confidence and reduce polarisation to finally achieve our elusive dream of free and fair elections.”
The statement added that the president wanted Pakistan to “leapfrog into the world of tomorrow” and not just solve problems through the lens and experiences of yesterday but through newer and better scientific approaches that were available.
Read more: NA passes bill disallowing overseas Pakistanis to vote, scraps use of EVMs
“He does understand that this cannot happen without confidence-building measures across the aisles, and broad stakeholder involvement. Why was this not done and why the obvious was not visible to the opinion and decision-makers will remain an enigma to him.”
“The present and future governments and parliaments will be facing two choices, whether to allow the past to drag Pakistan down or allow the lessons from the past and technologies of today to boost us into the bright progressive and dynamic future of Pakistan that has been our dream,” Dr. Alvi said.
“Many such decisions will continue to challenge us, and history shows that those who make the right decisions’ rise’, and those who don’t, squander opportunities that obstruct their path to glory.”