MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wants to strengthen democracy and end the outdated system by using the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming general elections.

Addressing different ceremonies in various union councils of NA-156 on Saturday, he said the PTI government was trying to use the modern technology to make the future elections fair where no political party might level the allegations of rigging.

“By holding the next elections while using the EVMs, we want to end the word ‘rigging’ forever,” he claimed.

He said the overseas Pakistanis were the backbone of the country’s economy and asked why they were not allowed to cast votes if they were sending billions of rupees to the country.

“Is giving the right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis a wrong step? Voting is their fundamental right from which they were being deprived. The overseas Pakistanis wanted to participate in the electoral process. They want betterment of Pakistan,” he explained.

Mr Qureshi added that elimination of corruption, provision of justice and good governance were possible only if democracy was strengthened in the country while democracy could only be strengthened if all Pakistanis whether living in or out of the Pakistan had a right to vote. He said the PTI had made history by giving the right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis.

About the differences of the opposition parties on the move, the minister said the opposition always opposed every good step taken by the government.

“The opposition becomes united against all the steps, including the legislation, made by the government despite the fact it has differences within its own ranks. The successful legislation over the issues of giving right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis and the EVMs is a proof that there is a unity within the government’s ranks while there is disruption among the ranks of opposition,” he claimed.

He said the government was facing multiple challenges since it came into power.

“The rulers during the tenures of the previous governments looted the national exchequer ruthlessly whose consequences are being faced by the nation.”

Mr Qureshi said the PTI government was making all-out efforts to overcome inflation, which was the biggest challenge.

He said the PTI government also gave the gift of south Punjab Secretariat through which the people of this area would not have to travel to other districts for resolution of their issues.

“The development of south Punjab is the priority of our government, which wants to divert the development process from the urban areas to the rural areas,” the minister said and added that the development schemes worth of billions were underway in Multan.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2021