Provincial Election Commissioner Directs Steps To Ensure Female Voters' Participation In Election

Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC), Pir Maqbool Ahmad taking notice of a report regarding disenfranchisement of women has warned that action would be taken under section 9 of Election Act 2017 against elements who barred female voters from exercising their voting rights.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jul, 2018 ) :Provincial Election Commissioner (PEC), Pir Maqbool Ahmad taking notice of a report regarding disenfranchisement of women has warned that action would be taken under section 9 of Election Act 2017 against elements who barred female voters from exercising their voting rights.

In a press release issued here Saturday, Provincial Election Commission citing a report of Trust for Democratic education and Accountability (TDEA) said that under local agreements female voters in certain areas of KP including former tribal areas have been barred from voting.

Election Commission said that if female voters were stopped from voting or hurdles were created for them to participate in the elections, punitive action would be taken against the elements involved and election results of that particular area would be declared null and void. The culprits would be sentenced for three year imprisonment or a fine of 100,000 rupees.

Provincial Election Commissioner has also directed concerned Deputy Commissioners and district Returning Officers to take action from preventing such agreements to materialize, and take necessary steps to ensure female franchise.