DEFEAT of Chaudhry Nisar in the recount, amongst other proofs of rigging shown on TV, is enough to give credence to the widespread protest.

On the other hand, the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan says that elections were 94 per cent fair and acknowledged so by the international media. This does not hold water.

There is no question so far about the personal integrity of Fakhru Bhai, but there are questions about his competence to handle this onerous job. The result is frustration about the credibility of the present electoral process.

Under these circumstances, if time and resources permit, we should introduce biometric identification system in identifying voters in all the re-elections and most certainly in all future elections, unless computer technology presented still better options.

Nadra has a complete record of fingerprints of all CNIC holders, i.e., the voters. This master data with Nadra can be linked with the computers at each polling station.

All that is needed is to have finger impression of every voter on the glassy gadget and compare it with the fingerprint on the master data to verify his credential and then tick his vote.

There will thus be no fictitious or multiple voting, as seen on TV. It will ensure automatic identification of the right person and will curb fraud. This is so necessary to evoke confidence in the public

It is worth a try as it is already working satisfactorily in several countries like the Philippines, Jamaica, Argentina and Cambodia.

S.M. ANWAR Karachi