ECP flags risks in e-voting for overseas Pakistanis as senate panel explores options

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Dr Hamayun Mohmand discussed critical issues surrounding the voting rights of overseas Pakistanis and the implementation of e-voting in general election.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials briefed the committee on the challenges and risks associated with e-voting, as well as concerns about the security of elections for Pakistanis abroad.

The ECP officials informed the committee that while some countries allow e- voting, Pakistan has not yet implemented it for a general election. They noted that Austria is the only country where e-voting is currently permitted for overseas voters.

The officials explained that they had previously alerted the government about the risks of hacking associated with online voting system. Due to these concerns, they strongly advised against using e-voting in general elections, highlighting potential threats from hackers, including foreign individuals, groups, and private entities that could exploit system vulnerabilities.

Senator Sarmad Ali raised a question, asking how dual nationality holders can vote if they are not allowed to contest elections or become members of Parliament.

He further suggested that if dual nationality holders are granted the right to vote, they should also be allowed to stand for elections. His comments sparked a lively debate about the rights of overseas Pakistanis and the inconsistencies in the country’s political system regarding dual nationality.

The ECP officials explained that, similar to Pakistan, countries like India do not allow overseas citizens to vote via the internet. In India, overseas citizens can only vote by returning to the country, although they can nominate a close relative to vote on their behalf in some cases. Indian overseas citizens with only Indian nationality can use postal ballots.

Senator Pervez Rashid proposed that a committee delegation visit Saudi Arabia to convince Pakistani expatriates there to register and vote in the upcoming elections.

Senator Kamran Murtaza raised concerns, pointing out that political activities are prohibited in Saudi Arabia. He mentioned an incident where a JUI member was arrested for allegedly engaging in political activities in the Kingdom.

Senator Murtaza jokingly warned that sending a political delegation to Saudi Arabia could result in similar arrests if the delegation engaged in political activities.

In response, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz suggested that letters be sent to all embassies, including those in Saudi Arabia, to gather their views and take appropriate action based on the responses.

He emphasized the importance of finding a solution to the issue but expressed skepticism about the ECP’s commitment to implementing e-voting.

Senator Faraz remarked that, despite widespread discussions on the need for transparent elections, there has been little progress in addressing election rigging and ensuring the integrity of the voting process.

The committee also discussed e-voting, with Dr Hamayun Mohmand expressing doubts about its feasibility, given the ECP’s concerns.

He noted that after reviewing the briefing provided by the ECP, it seemed unlikely that e-voting would be implemented for overseas Pakistanis anytime soon.

The ECP reiterated that Parliament remains divided on the issue, with many political parties opposing the idea of online voting. As a result, the ECP has continued pilot projects, as instructed by Parliament, but has not yet received a clear mandate for full implementation.

Senator Shibli Faraz criticized the ECP’s lack of initiative regarding e-voting, expressing regret that no substantial efforts have been made to implement effective solutions.

He recalled his time as minister of science and technology, where he had developed locally-made e-voting machines and challenged others to hack the system. He suggested that the Election Commission had no genuine intention to make e-voting a reality.

Senator Faraz also noted that the e-voting law was altered by the next government to prevent transparent elections. He pointed out that the PPP had initiated efforts to implement e-voting in 2010, and in Peshawar, a provincial constituency had successfully used an e-voting machine during an election, with no major issues aside from a minor battery problem.

Dr Hamayun Mohmand raised the question of whether constitutional amendments would be required to introduce e-voting in Pakistan. Senator Kamran Murtaza expressed concerns about the outcomes of the 2018 and 2024 elections, fearing that the integrity of the voting process had been compromised.

The meeting concluded with the committee agreeing that further steps must be taken to address the issue of overseas voting rights and the challenges posed by e-voting. While the path forward remains unclear, the committee’s discussions indicate that significant hurdles remain in ensuring the integrity and inclusivity of Pakistan’s electoral system.

As of the latest data, the number of overseas Pakistanis across various countries is as follows: Saudi Arabia has the largest community with 3,219,988 Pakistanis, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 2,688,306. The United Kingdom hosts 634,716, while Oman has 442,761.

In the United States, there are 290,837 Pakistanis, and Canada has 180,512. Other countries with significant numbers include Qatar (153,215), Malaysia (148,415), Bahrain (140,436), and Italy (121,167). Smaller communities exist in Kuwait (107,839), Spain (66,065), Greece (66,708), Australia (46,165), France (44,039), Germany (30,264), and South Africa (26,349). There are also notable numbers in Libya (14,349), Hong Kong (12,487), the Republic of Ireland (11,391), South Korea (10,216), Belgium (10,198), and other countries (158,238). In total, the Overseas Pakistani population abroad stands at 8,624,661.

The total number of NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) voters in Pakistan is 8,624,661, distributed across various provinces.

Punjab has the largest share with 5,166,630 voters, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 2,208,466. Sindh has 1,009,496 NICOP voters, while Balochistan has 142,325. The capital territory, Islamabad, has 97,744 NICOP voters.