ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is facing new hurdles in piloting the new biometric electoral voting system in the upcoming PS-114 by-elections, which are scheduled for July 9.

According to sources, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has yet to release voters? fingerprint and facial picture data to the ECP.

In a letter, dated June 9, addressed to Chairman NADRA Dr Usman Yousuf Mubeen, TRnE additonal Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain asked the chairman to provide ECP with the records.

On May 24, NADRA representatives had committed to provide biometric fingerprint data to ECP before June 15, wrote Hussain in the letter.

Use of EVMs unlikely as election commission needs Rs90b funds

Almost all political parties, except Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have also backtracked from their demand of using the EVMs in the elections

He urged the NADRA representatives to share the details regarding biometric finger print data and facial picture along with index of voters of PS-114 by-election, and electoral roll data of voters of PS-114 before June 10.

Hussain asking for NADRA?s cooperation wrote that by-election is a ?national task.?

In order to make the upcoming general elections more transparent, the ECP had purchased around 250 electronic voting machines and biometric voting machines to be used as a pilot project during this year?s by-elections across the country.