PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered re-polling at 18 polling stations in two National Assembly constituencies after the Peshawar High Court took suo motu notices on reports that women are being disenfranchised.
Following the court’s notice, re-polling has been ordered at polling stations-53 to 60 and 73 of Nowshehra’s NA-5 and polling stations number 11 to 17 and polling stations-64 and 66 in Laki Marwat’s NA-27.
It should be mentioned here that the court took suo motu notice of complaints regarding women being kept out of voting process in the by-elections in Nowshehra and Laki Marwat.
The court also ordered the ECP to withhold results from constituencies with unsatisfactory women turnout.
Chief Justice Dost Muhammed Khan called several officials including chief secretary, home secretary and Inspector General of Police to appear before the court.
Meantime, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), taking notice of the incident, warned candidates against preventing women from voting, saying such candidate will be disqualified if he does so.