PHC orders re-polling on NA-5, NA-27 stations

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Dost Muhammad Khan has ordered re-polling on stations in NA-5 (Nowshera) and NA-27 (Lakki Marwat) where women were barred from voting or their percentage was low.

During proceedings of the case pertaining to women being barred from voting in these constituencies, the Chief Justice of PHC directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to form an inquiry team which would evaluate the voting rate of women in NA-5 and NA-27. Re-polling will be held on the findings of the inquiry team.

Justice Khan remarked that barring women from voting was a violation of basic rights. He called on the government to formulate a law which would cancel the election in constituencies were votes of women were not cast.

During by-elections in these constituencies, women were barred from voting or their percentage was low. This had prompted the PHC Chief Justice to take notice and halt the results on the two constituencies.