Turkey offers Pakistan voting technology to fight fraud

ANKARA

Alleged electoral fraud in last year’s general elections sparked widespread protests in Pakistan.

Turkey has offered Pakistan its latest electronic voting technology to minimize the chances of electoral rigging, a simmering issue that has sparked widespread protests in the country for alleged electoral fraud in last year’s general elections.

Turkey’s military software company, Havelsan, made the offer Dec. 4 at the ongoing International Defense Exhibition “Ideas 2014” in the southern port city of Karachi, according to a company spokesman.

A total of 333 companies from 68 countries are participating in the fair titled “Arms for Peace.” Turkey has the largest number of companies participating in the exhibition after China.

Tarık Aziz, spokesman for Havelsan, told reporters the system his company was offering to Pakistan would ensure electronic voting machines function smoothly.

Aziz said the initial cost of an electronic voting machine is 100,000 Pakistani rupees ($1,000). Pakistan has over 80 million registered voters.

Unnamed Turkish officials were quoted by Pakistani daily “Express,” saying the newly established Exim (Export-import) Bank is ready to provide a loan for the procurement of these machines.

Pakistan’s cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan and his allies have been in the streets for nearly four months to protest against alleged fraud in the May 2013 elections, which appointed Nawaz Sharif prime minister.