TIMERGARA: Deputy Commissioner Dir Lower, Muhammad Sohail Khan here Wednesday directed all the Assistant Commissioners of four tehsils and election staff to ensure women voting in Local Govt election, avoiding the repeat of PK-95 by election wherein female were not allowed to exercise their right of franchise.
The DC who is also District Returning Office (DRO) issued these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting here at his office attended by assistant commissioners of four tehsils and officials of Election Commission.
He said no body would be allowed to create hurdle in way of women voters in the election and cordial atmosphere would be provided to them to cast their votes in a peaceful atmosphere.
The Deputy Commissioner said all arrangements for smooth holding of LG election have been completed in the district.
He directed the election staff to reach their respective assigned union councils and village councils at their earliest.
He said necessary training has been provided to polling staff ahead of the polls.
In addition to 13 separate polling stations for women voters, combined polling stations were also setup for their facilitation, the meeting was told. The DC said ECP has issued a comprehensive Code of Conduct for Election and Security Staff, Media, International Observers etc and directed the concerned to strictly abide by it.
Interestingly, all the main political parties which contested the PK-95 by election in Dir Lower on May 7 last denied barring the women from exercising their right to vote.
However, the political observers believed that there was a tacit understanding among the contesting candidates representing Jumaat e Islami, ANP, PPP and PTI not to bring the women to polling stations.
But it is also a fact that as per the local tradition of the district, women are discouraged from voting and considered it against the norms and tradition of Pakthoon culture.
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