ECP orders re-polling in PK-95 after women barred from voting

Women voters confirm they were not allowed to vote during the elections

ISLAMABAD: The election commission of Pakistan (ECP) directed on Tuesday re-polling in PK-95 constituency, Lower Dir-II.

The decision came following petitions that women were denied their fundamental right of voting in May 7 by-polls for the provincial assembly constituency PK-95.

ECP is yet to announce the date for re-polling.

Women voters confirmed they were not allowed to vote during the elections.

Read: ECP inquiry: Disenfranchisement of women a ‘tradition in Lower Dir’

Earlier, around 12 women from the constituency had approached Peshawar High Court through a petition, asking for the election to be declared null and void and to unseat Jamaat-e-Islami’s elected candidate.

Read: PK-95, Lower Dir-II: Women knock at PHC’s door for voting rights

In the petition submitted through their counsel Shahab Khattak, the women made the Election Commission of Pakistan respondent through the chief election commissioner, provincial election commissioner, returning and district returning officers. Other respondents included the winning and losing candidates.

Various reports from the constituency revealed that not a single woman cast her ballot on the day of polling on May 7.

The seat fell vacant after JI Amir Sirajul Haq was elected to the Senate. Fellow party member Izazul Mulk emerged victorious after edging out Awami National Party’s Haji Bahadar Khan.