Pakistan wary of reliability of EVMs: Media report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Election Commission is wary of a complete switchover from the existing paper ballot system to the Electronic Voting Machine system amid a controversy in India over the reliability of the machines, according to a media report today.

Official sources in the Election Commision of Pakistan said that although it was already not in favour of a complete switchover, the reports from India have further raised their concerns over the reliability of the EVMs, The News reported.

In their internal meetings, there is a consensus within the ECP that Pakistan should initially restrict itself to pilot projects under the EVM system, the report said.

While different political parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, have demanded that the entire 2018 elections should be held under the EVM system.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have demanded reverting to the old paper ballots after their electoral losses in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab respectively.