The female voter turnout in the NA-4 by-election on Oct 26th was 13.8% compared to 41.3% for men
ISLAMABAD: The female voter turnout in the NA-4 by-election on Oct 26th was 13.8% compared to 41.3% for men. Low female turnout regardless of the many social and cultural factors of the Peshawar region says a lot about the pro-women policies of the party in power in K-P. The voting pattern showed an increase in votes cast by females in the 2013 election in the same constituency at 28.19% as compared to the 2008 election when female voters were not allowed to cast votes. However, from 28.19% the percentage has dropped to 13.8% in the recent by-election. Although the reasons for casting votes for one candidate or the other differ for male and female voters, a drop in the overall percentage should not be viewed favourably for the ruling party of the province. Considering the above, it might be difficult for the PTI to make it to the federal government.
Shahbaz Faheem
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2017.
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