Lack Of Women Polling Stations In NA 258 May Effect Turn-out

The representatives of different political parties have pointed out lack of separate women political polling stations in NA 258, making casting of vote for this segment a bit more hectic job due to societal and cultural taboos.

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jul, 2018 ) :The representatives of different political parties have pointed out lack of separate women political polling stations in NA 258, making casting of vote for this segment a bit more hectic job due to societal and cultural taboos.

A contestant of Pakistan Muslim League-N urging the country's election watchdog asked to increase number of separate women polling station in NA 258 to encourage the women voters to cast their right of franchise freely.

He said the constituency was offering just 83 women polling facilities which were insufficient for almost 135, 000 women to exercise their right with ease.

Talking to APP, former Minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar contesting from the same constituency said the constituency (earlier known as NA 263) had witnessed only 26.6 per cent women turn-out of total 93,016 female registered voters in the last general election of 2013 due to less number of dedicated polling stations for women. He said Election Commission of Pakistan must keep in mind the social and cultural restraints especially in the conservative areas and allocate more places for women to ensure maximum turn-out of this segment in the general polls. Nasar feared, "A large number of women voters of conservative districts of Loralai, Musakhel, Ziarat and Duki are likely to miss their right to franchise as the cultural norms do not permit them to mix with the male segment to cast votes.

" Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Sardar Sarbuland Jogizai, also a candidate in the constituency said due to scattered population and lack of transport facilities many women may not be able to reach polling stations and this facility must be extended to their near hometowns for their maximum contribution in national electoral process.

He said Baloch women were now more aware as compared to the past and majority want to play their role for the country and the strong the democratic system.

He also termed 83 polling stations insufficient for the constituency which may affect the turn-out in the constituency and demanded more independent polling stations to accommodate women of the areas.

A social activist Marriyum Bibi expressing her dismay over the situation said, "It would deprive the women voters from their basic right to cast their votes as 310 combined polling stations are unlikely to see more female voters due to social taboos." The constituency contains 313,893 total registered voters and among them are 135,091 women.