PESHAWAR, Aug 23: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has said that the commission may decide about ordering re-election in areas where women were barred from voting in the first phase of the local government elections.
“I have directed respective district returning officers to pinpoint the union councils in the NWFP where women were forced not to cast their votes,” Justice Dogar told newsmen at the office of the provincial election commission here on Tuesday.
He said that after receiving reports from the DROs, the commission would take a final decision regarding re-polling at women’s polling stations.
When asked about security arrangements for the second phase of polls to be held in 12 districts of the Frontier province on Thursday, he said he had asked the provincial government to ensure security.
“District police officers and station house officers will be responsible if any mishap occurs in areas of their jurisdiction before and during polling,” Justice Dogar said.
Justice Dogar was earlier briefed on election arrangements at the office of the provincial election commission.
Provincial Election Commissioner Abdullah Khan, Chief Secretary Ijaz Qureshi, Inspector General of Police Rifat Pasha, Home Secretary Abdul Karim Qasuria and other senior officials attended the briefing.
Justice Dogar pointed out that security arrangements were not up to the mark in the first phase of the polls due to which women staff could not perform their duty.
Polls in the second phase will be held in Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan, Swat, Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Chitral and Malakand districts where 3,273 polling stations have been set up.
Police chief Rifat Pasha requested the CEC to direct the Interior Ministry to provide two wings of the Frontier Corps, in addition to the six wings already deployed.
He said that the provincial government would deploy 45 platoons of Frontier Reserve Police, 62 platoons of Frontier Constabulary, two battalions of army troops and 114 platoons of police in the 12 districts.
The CEC was informed that 999 stations had been declared sensitive and 151 most sensitive. ‘Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Battagram and Shangla’ have been declared sensitive districts.
Commandant Frontier Constabulary Mohammad Sikanderzai said that the interior ministry had already deployed FC platoons in Karachi and Islamabad and was unable to provide any additional force to the Frontier government.
