Father of the deceased, Darya Khan said Waheeda slipped on the stairs and died on the spot. Waheeda was a mother of two and Ali Amin’s wife. The family of four resides in Islamabad. Waheeda had come to Peshawar to visit her father and brother, Khalid Rehman.

In contrast to Darya’s claims, there were reports of Waheeda being poisoned to death. “The father and two brothers told the husband she accidently slipped on the stairs. But Waheeda’s sister alleged she was poisoned,” said an official of the Town police. He added the daughters had a dispute with their father and brothers over inheritance.

Doctors also suspected Waheeda’s death was not an accident, said the official.

According to police, an FIR has been registered. However, no arrests had been made till the filing of this report. Waheeda’s organs were sent to Lahore to test for possible poisoning, a process which can take up to two months. The deceased’s body, meanwhile, was sent to Islamabad for burial.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.

Heavily armed militants attacked a police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) which was on a routine patrol on Kohat Road in Sara Khwara area, leaving three policemen including a driver and two constables injured.

Militants also attacked an army engineering vehicle which was en route from the Darra Adam Khel side. The attack was followed by an intense gun battle between the police and militants, which lasted for an hour.

The militants retreated towards Akka Khel, Khyber Agency as a large number of additional policemen were sent to the area for backup. When the police reached the spot they found three men from the army dead while four were critically injured.

The injured were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where some of them were stated to be in critical condition.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a security official confirmed that two of their men had been killed and two were injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: Two people were killed in an encounter with the Badhaber police on Kohat Road Tuesday afternoon.

The men, who were armed with automatic rifles and hand grenades, opened fire at police officials when the latter tried to stop their car at Zangali check post on Kohat Road for a search.

The vehicle was coming from Darra Adam Khel and the driver increased its speed in an attempt to evade the security stop. However, policemen blocked the road near the police station, resulting in a firefight with the men. The incident, which took place in a crowded market place, left both men in the car seriously injured. Two women and a child were also hurt.

The injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). One of the men died en route, while the other succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

An official of Badhaber police station said both were Pakistanis and in their mid thirties. “They were armed with an automatic rifle, 9mm pistols and two hand grenades. We think they could be kidnappers as both were well-dressed and driving a brand new XLI car,” said the official.

The identities of both men were later established and they were handed over to the families. The family of one deceased, Shahryar Khan, a resident of Karim Pura, staged a protest against his killing in front of Governor House. The family claimed Khan was a second-year student at Government Degree College Darra Adam Khel. They said he was killed in cold blood, adding the story of his encounter with the police was also completely fabricated. The family demanded those responsible be arrested. The other deceased has been identified as Saqib, a resident of Mohalla Janghi, Qisakhwani Bazaar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: The general elections did not prove fruitful for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s veteran politicians, but in their wake scrap collectors are now ready to earn.

While no one dared touch posters and banners belonging to the province’s winning party-the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf- collectors had started removing election paraphernalia bearing the marks of other political parties by Saturday night.

“The collection of scrap, especially paper and plastic bags, is not considered very profitable. People normally collect metal and plastic bottles,” said Farhad Khan, a scrap dealer. He further said people start collecting elections banners and posters immediately after the polls are over. A large number of posters are removed by the municipal committee and thrown away, he added.

“You cannot recycle clothes (used for flags) so people collect them and use them in their houses,” said another scrap dealer identified as Anwar Khan from Kabari Bazaar in Saddar.

He added panaflex can be used again but is sold for a very low price as the material is lightweight. “Many candidates sell their unused posters after the elections. These are purchased in large amounts and give the winning or losing candidates an opportunity to earn money”.

This time, however, collecting scrap was no ordinary man’s job. “The city was full of posters, banners and flags, I saw people hire pickups for the job!” said Anwar, adding as there was no shortage of scrap across the country these days, the prices are likely to drop a considerable degree.

“The key is to collect it in huge quantities, and that is what people are doing”.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: Men folk in five villages on the outskirts of the city adjacent to the Shalober area of Khyber Agency Landi Bala, Landi Payan, Sangu, Achini and Haji Banda did not allow their women to cast their votes as per the local Pakthun tradition and all the women polling stations in the area presented a deserted look throughout the day on Saturday.

All these villages lies in the PK-6 and NA-2 constituency and its inhabitants proudly claim that in the history of these village women had not been allowed to cost votes in any election.

Talking to the Express Tribune a local elder and ex-nazim Wahidullah Khan said that in the past villagers took a unanimous decision not to allow women polling but this time no such thing had happened but even then women did not come to polling stations to vote.

Another elder Rahmat Ali also said that it was considered against the local tradition and that was why nearly all the surrounding villages allowed women to vote but these five village let the head of each family decide it and in the end there was no female polling like the previous years.

Yet another local elder and Awami National Party (ANP) representative Shaukat Khan also expressed the same feelings. “It is not our tradition and I think people respect it,” he explained.

The polling station no 203, reserved for women voters in Landi Bala, was wearing a deserted look throughout the polling day despite the fact that in the same village people were standing in long lines outside the male polling station waiting for their turn.

“We came here around 6 in the morning and till then not a single woman voter has showed up,” said one of the polling staff. She said that there were 1500 registered voters in the list provided to them by the Election Commission of Pakistan. “Not a single vote has been cast,” she added, saying that women were not allowed to vote in these few villages even in this modern day world.

Outside these women polling stations, there was unusual hustle and bustle and locals claimed that they had not seen people coming to polling stations in such large numbers. “It is unusual and a record turn over for these villages as far as male voters are concerned but there is nothing new for women voters,” they added due to its location all these villages had been declared most sensitive and extra ordinary security arrangements had been made.

PESHAWAR: An attempt to bar women from voting in Suliman Khel village was thwarted when representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) staunchly opposed it, allowing women to vote for the first time ever.

A meeting of elders belonging to various political parties was held in Suliman Khel on Thursday night during which it was decided it is against local tradition for women to vote and thus they should be barred from doing so, said locals.

However, PML-N representatives strongly opposed the decision announcing they would encourage women from the area to come to polling stations, forcing other parties to abandon the decision too.

An elder requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune women from their village had not taken part in elections since the creation of the country and prior to any election elders bar them from voting. However, the changing trend is evidence of a different situation this time around, he added.

“There are a lot of candidates in the running and they cannot ignore female voters,” said the elder, adding the turnout, however, would be low because of the deteriorating law and order.

Another village elder said some non-political elders were also against allowing women to vote, but in the end the decision was approved and women were ‘allowed’ to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Muhammad Fida, who was present at the meeting, said: “Almost all parties were in favour of letting women vote, only Gul Rehman, the representative of Awami National Party (ANP) was against it, citing security concerns.”

Fida added all representatives refused to prohibit it and thus the historic decision was taken. Similarly, elders in other villages including Teleband, Mariamzai, Shera Kera, Charpareza and Gul Bela have also refrained from placing any such restrictions, making these elections the first in which women from these areas will vote alongside men.

Suliman Khel lies within the PK-11 and NA-4 constituencies and is considered one of the worst militancy-hit villages in the region. It is also one of the first villages where girls schools were blown up by militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: Police have suggested candidates should confine themselves to their houses to avoid any untoward incidents on Election Day, and the administration backs this proposal, said CCPO Liaqat Ali on Thursday.

This was disclosed while talking to the press at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines about Election Day security procedures for the provincial capital. Commissioner Peshawar Sahibzada Anees and Deputy Commissioner Javed Marwat were also present at the occasion.

“We suggested to the administration that candidates should not visit polling stations because they are the real target and in the event of an attack against them, the general public will also suffer,” explained Liaqat. “However, this is only a suggestion.”

The Pakistan Army has been dispatched to the outskirts of the city – they would not be deployed directly inside the city, but would be available at a 10-minute notice.

“Frontier Constabulary (FC) and a large number of police officials have been deployed and we also have a strong reserve force ready to be used in case of any emergency,” pressed the CCPO. “A strong contingent of reserves has been assigned at police stations. And as a backup, the army is ready to support us. Let me tell you we are ready to face any challenge head on.”

Liaqat reminded the media that polling stations have been divided in to three categories:  most sensitive, sensitive and normal, and security deployment would be carried out as per these categorizations.

“Our duty is to conduct a free and fair election and those policemen who are proven guilty of political involvement would be dealt with an iron hand.”

Building protocols

All entry and exit points in the city have been sealed by the police and no vehicle or person is allowed to enter the city unchecked in the run up to the polls and on Election Day itself.

In addition, Afghan refugees have been asked to stay within their camp boundaries on polling day.

To make the process more secure for the general public, display of weapons is also banned and, CCPO Liaqat emphasised, there would be zero tolerance in this regard. “People should avoid large-scale gatherings or congested areas around the polling stations or in candidates’ election offices because such crowds could attract terrorists.”

Mobile phones are prohibited inside polling booths, he said, adding people should be aware of the ban to avoid unnecessary complications.

“Please do your best to curb rumours,” requested Commissioner Sahibzada Anees.  He also supported the idea candidates should not venture out on Election Day as it creates heightened security issues for the police and the public.

Liaqat too urged the media to verify ‘news’ before airing it in order to stop the spread of rumours. “If the media require updates or any confirmations, they should contact control rooms established at district, divisional and provincial levels.”

Inside out

According to Commissioner Sahibzada Anees there were two types of threats in Peshawar – one was internal and the other an external threat from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The security plan was designed keeping these concerns at the forefront.

“We are coordinating with the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps, both of which are already present in Fata. They are currently operating in Tirah [valley] as well.”

According to Anees, there are at least 86,000 internally displaced families from Khyber Agency living in the settled districts. Polling stations have been established in Jalozai Camp and Shahkas inside Khyber Agency. “There are around 94,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) registered to vote.”

Anees said the media should portray a positive image on polling day to encourage people to come out of their homes and cast their votes. There are 981 polling stations in Peshawar alone, according to the commissioner.  Delivery of polling materials will start Friday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.

Wracked by the deep-rooted militancy in the district, it will pose a real challenge for law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order on Election Day.

It is the area where the most number of girls schools have been blown up; the area where the highest number of attacks against police posts, security vehicles and installations including grid stations and telephone towers have taken place.

Here, locals have raised peace militias to counter militancy. Due to this, Adezai, Suliman Khel and Bazid Khel have been primary targets for militants over the past few years. Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Arbab Ayub Jan, who has served as the provincial minister for agriculture, is now on the militants’ hit-list because of his service.

By the same token, NA-4 borders three tribal areas, including Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar, FR Kohat (Darra Adam Khel) and Akka Khel area of Khyber Agency. This provides militants the opportunity to strike a target in the settled districts and retreat back to their hideouts in the tribal belt.

Election campaign has been a challenge for the ANP and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) this election season. The void has allowed their rivals, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Gulzar Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Sabir Hussain Awan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to fill the political vacuum, considering these parties do not face the same security threats and have been able to campaign more freely.

Some parts of NA-3, including Mathra, Khazana and Daudzai are also very sensitive. Several pro-government tribal elders have been targeted by militants in Khazana and Mathra. Militants have also launched fatal attacks on polio workers.

In Chagharmati and Garhi Sherdad, threatening pamphlets surfaced last week. Similar warnings also appeared in Mattani, Suliman Khel and Sheikh Muhammadi asking people to not vote on Election Day because ‘democracy is against Islam.’

Haji Asad, a local elder, said militants came to the area two days ago at night and tore down the flags of different parties in Qadarabad, Mattani. “They were around 40 of them and no one intercepted them, which means they rule the area after sundown,” he said.

Mattani DSP Fazal-e-Wahid said he has been provided with enough police contingents to maintain security for the elections and around 200 army soldiers have also been deployed along the Khyber Agency border to check infiltration. “The situation it is not a secret. These are areas where several militant factions operate,” he agreed.

The police said army personnel were being deployed in police stations in far flung areas and will be acting as a quick response force to deal with any untoward situation on a few minutes’ notice.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: At least three people, including two policemen were killed in a raid conducted on a suspected militants’ hideout in Saddat Town area of Yakatot police station, Peshawar on Wednesday.

The intelligence agencies had informed the police that suicide bombers, equipped with suicide vests, hand grenades and pistols had reached the city and were taking refuge in a hideout inside residential areas. It was suspected that the miscreants were planning on disrupting the voting process on Election Day.

The police then initiated a district-wide search operation to locate them.

Around 6pm, the police received authentic reports that the militants were hiding in a densely populated town in Rashid Garhi. A group of policemen were then sent to conduct a raid in the house in Saddar Town but were fiercely resisted by the militants, killing two police constables in the process.

The police cordoned the entire area off to block all escape routes of the militants.

An hour later, a suicide bomber blew himself up, as a result of which the house caved in killing an elderly woman and other militants present with him.

“We are unable to confirm how many militants have been killed,” said a police official. Two suspected militants have, however, been arrested.

A child in a nearby house was also wounded and was immediately taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

The two and a half hour long operation spread panic in the area as all entry and escape routes to the location were closed.

The official said the police are trying their level best to ensure fool proof security on Election Day.

Women in Pakistan face an unusual conundrum with respect to elections. They can become the premier or a minister but in many places are refused their right to vote.

In the 2008 polls in Suleman Khel, elders and candidates from NA-4 Peshawar-IV collectively decided women would not vote. They signed a stamp-paper declaration to this effect, making it binding on everyone to obey the decision.

In the previous election, political parties in Charsadda and Swat also did not allow women to vote. Even though it was in Charsadda that Begum Naseem Wali Khan, wife of the late Wali Khan, contested elections in 1977 and became the first woman in Pakistan to do so.

NA-7 Charsadda-I is dominated by the Awami National Party (ANP), the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and the Qaumi Watan Party.

The tentative swing votes

The 2013 polls are paving the way to an election of firsts. Candidates were disqualified because they did not know a Quranic verse; three major parties are under relentless terrorist attacks; the ECP has played an unprecedented role and the judiciary is an ‘active’ observer. It would be fair to say that this time, every single vote counts.

There are 37.59 million women registered to vote in Pakistan, making up 43.6% of the total registered electorate. The question is: will women make their vote count? Several women were asked how they intend to approach May 11.

We Asked

Are you going to vote?

If yes, then who will you vote for and why?

If no, then why not?

Have you ever voted before?

If yes, then who did you vote for and why?

First Time Voters

*Names have been changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2013.