‘Cultural sensitivities’ likely to keep Swat women indoors

Commissioner says complaint cell formed to take action against perpetrators

SWAT: After the glaring absence of women in Lower Dir by-polls, Swat is keenly being watched as observers wait for an answer to will they or won’t they? Will women come out and vote in the district neighbouring Dir, is the question only the day end will answer.

The Malakand commissioner insists anyone barring women from voting will be dealt with a strict hand, but locals claim women will stay away from polling stations of their own accord. Commissioner Kifayatullah Khan told The Express Tribune on Friday a complaint cell has been established to ensure women are not barred from exercising their constitutional right. “We will take strict action against the perpetrators on each and every complaint,” he said,

Reiterating the commissioner’s stance, Swat DPO Saleem Marwat said strict action will be taken against anyone trying to prevent women from voting. However, he was also quick to seek locals’ help in preventing such occurrences. “We cannot go from house to house and ask women if they are being forcibly prevented,” said Marwat. “It is the responsibility of the people and citizens to inform law-enforcement officials about who denied them their rights.” He added police cannot force women to vote.



Rural vs urban

Abdul Jalal, a senior lawyer and elder, said women would be able to vote in Mingora city and Saidu Sharif, but there were rumours they will not do so in rural areas.

According to Jalal, “No one will stop women but because of cultural restrictions, they will choose not to leave their homes.” He added explaining the ‘cultural sensitivities’, “My brother contested in the last LG polls; not a single woman from his family came out to vote, even for him.” The lawyer could not say for sure if all women will stay away from polling stations in rural areas of Kabal, Matta, Kanju, Marghuzar, Koza, Shamozai, Balogram, Odigram and Imam Dheri. But he stipulated women voter turnout will not be more than 2%.

Keeping watch

Election fever is at its height in the valley as final preparations are under way for the first ever LG polls in a democratic set-up. Nearly, 6,000 police officials will be on duty today to provide security to voters and polling staff.

Swat Commanding Officer Major General Nadir Khan, DPO Marwat and Commissioner Khan have all expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements. According to Marwat, two units from the Quick Response Force will also be on duty to tackle any untoward incident.

Meet the polling staff

While the rest of the district votes, some 12,000 presiding officers as well as their polling staff will not as they will be busy with their assigned duties.

Akhtar Ali, who is the presiding officer in Kanju, said four to six officials will be deployed at all polling stations. “Like previous elections, we (polling staff) won’t be voting, instead we would be busy transferring ballot boxes and other election material,” said Ali.

Naveedzada, the presiding officer of a polling station in Kabal tehsil, said the area is sensitive and they have been given very few facilities. He claimed the government had promised to provide transportation to election staff but the facility was insufficient. “They have parked some buses in Grassy Ground to transport us to stations but those are just 10 buses, how will they accommodate thousands of polling staff and election material?” he questioned.

Sajid Ali who has been assigned to a women’s polling station in Khawazakhela was concerned about how he would manage there. “I don’t know how it will work out as I don’t know how to communicate with the female staff and, especially, women voters.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2015.