LANDI KOTAL, May 2: Out of a total of 139,377 registered voters in the Khyber Agency, 83,695 people cast votes in the presidential referendum in Jamrud and Bara tehsils on Tuesday.

It was the first time that more than 1,000 women cast votes in Zakhakhel and Landi Kotal areas.

Polling was also held in the Zakhakhel Bazaar for the first time, as the area was recently included into the agency as an administrative unit after the completion of the controversial Zakhakhel Road up to the Mangal Bazaar area.

The elders in the Gagrina area stopped their women from casting votes on the pretext that the practice was against their tribal traditions.

However, in some other areas, including the Karamna village, Maliks were seen escorting their womenfolk to the only polling station set up at Alamkhel School to vote in the referendum.

In all, 12,014 women voters used their right to franchise in the Landi Kotal tehsil. In Bara and Jamrud areas, more than 10,000 women cast their votes.

The political administration, in collaboration with the election commission staff, ensured that the maximum  number of people cast their votes in the referendum in a peaceful atmosphere.