August 18, 2005	Thursday	Rajab 12, 1426

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: On the intervention of the federal government, Jirgas in three union councils of Peshawar city have reverted their decision, allowing women to cast votes in local bodies elections to be held on Thursday.

According to an official statement issued by the ministry of women development here on Wednesday, Jirgas in the union councils of Mashukhail, Sheikhan and Mushtarzai have decided that women would not be barred from casting votes in the elections.

The decision was taken at a meeting of these Jirgas on Wednesday after prime minister’s adviser on women development Nilofar Bakhtiar intervened in the matter, said the statement.

The jirga members also decided that they would observe all the rules and regulations issued by the election commission.

“They (Jirga members) pledged that they would not stop any woman from casting her vote, and if they did not want to cast their vote, no candidate would object to it.”