PESHAWAR, Sept 19: The Peshawar High Court on Monday sought comments from the Chief Election Commissioner in a writ petition challenging re-polling in a union council where women had not cast votes.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijazul Hassan and Justice Fazalur Rehman Khan took up for preliminary hearing the writ petition filed by newly elected nazim of union council Jehangira 2 (Nowshera), Muhammad Ismael.

The petitioner has challenged the CEC’s order of re-polling in two women polling stations, stating that women were never barred from casting votes there.

The bench also issued notice to the respondents, including the CEC and the losing candidates, in an application praying for staying the re-polling till final disposal of the writ petition.

Barrister Masood Kausar appeared for the petitioner and contended that polls were held on Aug 18 and in all the women polling stations the presiding officers and polling staff remained present till the closing hour at 5pm. He added that no women turned up to cast vote there.

Mr Kausar pointed out that in various areas of the NWFP agreements were signed by the contesting candidates for barring women from casting votes. He added that the situation in the instant union council Jehangira 2 was different as no agreement had taken place between the candidates and women of their own free will had not participated in the electoral process.

The presiding officers of the polling stations, he contended, had also recorded their statements that nobody had stopped women from casting votes.

Mr Kausar stated that the losing candidates approached the Chief Election Commissioner and instead of verifying the facts the commissioner ordered re-polling in two of the polling stations.