Ministry of Science apologises from conducting LB polls in Islamabad through EVMs

Islamabad: The Ministry of Science and Technology has apologized from conducting the local body (LB) polls in Islamabad completely through electronic voting machines (EVM).

According to the sources, the ministry said that due to lack of resources and time, they will be able to provide EVMs only for mayor's election.

It also said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the ministry to immediately provide 50 EVMs to conduct mock electoral process so that local body elections could be held through EVMs.

According to the sources, the election commission immediately demanded 50 EVM machines from the ministry. The ECP directed the Ministry of Science to expedite all the steps for procurement of EVMs. The ECP also directed the ministry to appoint focal persons on EVMs.

The ECP had written a letter to the Ministry of Science and Technology for conducting local body elections in Islamabad through EVM. The ECP had also requested 3900 EVM machines from the Ministry of Science.