We can do it: PHC suspends LG polls in DI Khan tehsil over disenfranchisement of women

Petitioners say they were not allowed inside polling stations

DI KHAN: The DI Khan bench of Peshawar High Court suspended the local government (LG) elections of Kari Shah Muzai and Landa Sharif in Paroha tehsil, DI Khan. The decision was taken as women in both areas were reportedly not allowed to vote. A similar court order was issued earlier in other parts of the tehsil.

The bench comprising Justice Muhammad Dawood issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the district returning officer and other officials. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for October 6.



The writ petition was filed by Wazira Bibi from Kari Shah Muzai and Zarina Bibi of Landa Sharif. They appealed that the LG election results be deemed null and void. A re-election needs to be conducted, the women added in their petition.

Advocate Matiullah, the attorney for the applicants, told the media the decision of the high court is important as it discourages people from disenfranchising women. “As per law, women have the same right as men to vote, and their vote should be given equal weight,”
he said.

The applicants had previously filed a petition with ECP about the same issue. However, due to a delay in response, they went to the high court to resolve the matter.

Women’s vote

During the LG elections in the province, women were deprived of casting their votes at six polling stations in Kari Shah Muzai and one polling station in Landa Sharif.

There were reports of the same problem from other polling stations in DI Khan as well.

However, the district nazim had already taken oath before the stay order was issued and the district government in DI Khan has been formed. The tehsil government has not been formed in Daraban as per an earlier stay order issued by the high court.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2015.