Balochistan LG polls: Civil society condemns bars on women voting

Reports suggest women were not allowed to cast votes in numerous areas.

ISLAMABAD:

Civil society representatives and human rights activists in the federal capital have condemned reports that women in many areas of Balochistan were prevented from voting during the local government elections on Saturday.

They demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) take note of issue and void election results wherever women were barred from voting.

“The ECP should set a date for fresh elections in polling stations where women’s fundamental rights were usurped,” they said in a statement issued on Saturday.

Civil society representatives said that according to reports, women were prevented from voting in Noshki (Ward-3), Quetta (Kharotabad, Ward-7), Mastung, Chaman and Chaghi.

They said that absence of women staff at women polling stations, lack of security, fake identity cards and fraudulent voters’ lists were some of the reasons women were discouraged from stepping out of their houses to vote.

Peace activist Tahira Abdullah said that she has also emailed a copy of the statement highlighting the civil society’s concerns to Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Nasirul Mulk to take note of the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2013.