Men forced Swat women to cast vote to particular parties

SWAT: In Thesil Kabal and Matta mismanagement caused much uproar in the female polling stations where some workers and political agents of some political parties reportedly forced women to cast vote in favor of their parties.

However, after complaints from voters, soldiers of Pak Army were called and deployed to streamline the polling process. “Some of the political agents in the women polling stations of Tehsil Kabal were forcing female voters to cast votes in their favor, so, we immediately complained to the ECP and they sent security forces to control the situation after which everything got streamlined,” Fazal Wadood, a local resident of Tehsil Kabal told The Express Tribune.

There was high fever and enthusiasm observed among Swat people, they streamed out to cast votes however, the process of polling seemed very slow. Queue of thousands of people waited for hours outside the polling stations for their turn. “We demand for extending time so that we manage to cast vote,” Farooq, a voter who was waiting in queue outside of the polling station in Mingora, told The Express Tribune.

Though in many women polling stations, polling turnout was very low, however coming out of women was encouraging move.

For the first time in history, all the female polling stations were functional where women polled their votes. “Though, in our area, men had decided to stop us from voting but we came and cast our votes. In the morning when women were not coming, I went to different homes personally and brought out women after motivating them for using their right to vote,” an old lady in Amankot female polling station told The Express Tribune.

“For the first time in my life, I cast my vote and used my right. At first I was a bit nervous inside the polling booth however, everything got better and I stamped according to my wishes, for peace in my country,” Shaista, a female voter told  The Express Tribune after casted her vote.

Women were contented with the security situation as tough security measures were taken. Along with police, soldiers of Pak Army were patrolling to tackle any unpleasant situation.

“This is the last chance for change and if people missed it this time, they would repent in the rest of their life. So I came out for change, positive change which leads our country toward democratic development and prosperity,” Abdullah, a voter in Saidu Sharif told The Express Tribune.