Setting a precedent: Dir, Swat’s women take to the streets for voting rights

ECP announces July 12 as date for fresh elections in PK-95

MINGORA/ PESHAWAR/ LOWER DIR:

At the heels of the ECP’s decision to hold a re-poll in PK-95 Lower Dir, women from the conservative Swat and Lower Dir districts took to the streets on Friday to demand their fundamental right to vote – setting a new precedent.

A majority of the protesters who gathered in Mingora hailed from Charbagh union council. Many of them said on the day of local government polls they had either been barred from entering polling stations or told to return to cast their votes later.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan has termed elections in PK-95, Lower Dir-II null and void because women were not allowed to vote,” a protester said. “The same should have been done in parts of Swat.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, another protester said the administration is equally responsible for the loss of women’s suffrage as it must take tangible steps to provide equal rights to women in all spheres.

“Polls can only be held in a peaceful manner if the army is deployed to supervise the electoral process,” she added.

Similarly, in the neighbouring Lower Dir, a large number of women from Manjai union council attended a protest in Odigram, demanding re-elections for the local government. They complained that in a repeat of the PK-95 fiasco they were not allowed to vote as various political parties had turned them back from polling stations.

New beginnings

ECP has provided a much-needed solution to safeguard women’s voting rights in Lower Dir at least. It has declared PK-95’s election null and void and announced a schedule for re-polling. Fresh elections will take place on July 12.

According to a notification issued by the election commission, the returning officer will issue a public notice regarding re-elections on June 8. Nomination papers can be submitted to ROs on June 15 and 16 and will be scrutinised on June 18 and 19. The notification added June 22 will be the last day for filing of appeals against the RO’s decision to reject and accept nomination papers. The final candidate list will be published on June 26.

ECP has appointed Malakand Regional Election Commissioner Jamil Ahmed as district returning officer, while Lower Dir District Election Commissioner Muhammad Nasir Khan will serve as returning officer.

Going the extra mile

Although ECP’s decision has been lauded as an unprecedented move, rights activists believe the battle has yet to be won. A large number of activists across the province believe the election commission needs to go the extra mile to create a safe environment for women who want to cast their vote.

Shad Begum, a social activist who hails from Dir, told The Express Tribune she was pleased by the ECP’s decision.

“For many years, my NGO has been working towards empowering women,” she said. “It’s a difficult and arduous process. ECP cannot assume that setting a new date for re-polling in PK-95 will guarantee women will come out to vote. It will need to provide women with security and comfort.”

Breaking barriers

According to Shad Begum, many women are willing to vote but are discouraged from doing so due a variety of reasons

“There is a double standard,” she said. “When a man’s registration number is not listed in a particular polling station, arrangements are made for him to vote elsewhere.  Women who face similar issues are simply sent home.”

Similarly, Akbar Khan, another rights activist, said ECP needs to make suitable arrangements for women.

“Most combined polling station for men and women in Lower Dir have only one entrance,” he said. “I don’t think women will be willing to use the same entrance as men to access the polling booths.”

Moreover, Khan added most returning officers in the district are men. “If there are no women polling staff, women will not feel comfortable enough to vote at polling booths,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.