Parties struggle to find female polling agents

RAWALPINDI:

Political parties are facing difficulty in appointing female polling agents for women polling stations as many refused to take up the role.

After lack of interest in the position from educated women and female teachers, political parties have increased the remuneration for women polling agents from Rs7,000 to Rs10,000. Additionally, they have are offering a supply of groundnuts, sweets, roasted grams and oranges as part of the package.

In previous elections, families of the workers of the political parties were available as polling agents for free services under party policy. This time the female workers of political parties have refused to provide their services and a large number of female teachers have also refused.

Candidates are typically not trusting of unacquainted women to oversee the polling stations. Moreover, owing to the tense political climate, distrust has increased even more. It has been reported that many female workers offering their services refused to give up their identity cards on the polling day despite it being a requirement, which also caused suspicion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th 2024.