May 21, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 20: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Tuesday proposed introduction of compulsory vote system in areas where women generally do not come out to vote owing to social and cultural taboos.

The Committee which met here Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Senator S M Zafar to discuss the issue of non-participation of women in the February Elections in certain areas of the country under restrictive agreements noted that there were areas where women were not allowed to go to utility stores for shopping even restricted to proceed for Umra.

Members of the committee suggested that Secretary Election Commission should appear in next meeting with some proposed amendments in this regard.

It was observed that on Polling Stations where less than 10 per cent of registered women did not turn up to cast vote, the law should presume that it had happened due to some illegal prohibition.

The committee stressed upon the Human Rights Wing to prepare a plan in collaboration with the NGOs to create awareness among the people of the areas where such practices exist.