MINGORA, May 27: Swat Unity Network, a grouping of 13 nongovernmental organisations, has said zero women voter turnout was recorded at many polling stations of Miadam and Bharthana union council, Swat on May 11.

SUN coordinator Khan Saeed told a news conference here at Swat Press Club that his organisation had conducted a survey to know turnout of women voters in Swat district.

He said the survey showed that in Bharthana union council of PK-84, not a single women voter participated in the May 11 electoral exercise, while in Miadam union council of PK-85, women were deprived from their right to vote. Mr Saeed said the survey was conducted in areas to which the surveyors’ access was possible.

He said three polling stations in PK-85, including Mataltan, Osho and Cherat, and one polling station in PK-80, Amankot, had reported zero women voter turnout.

The SUN coordinator said 10 per cent of the total women votes in a national or provincial assembly constituency were required by the Election Commission of Pakistan rules to be polled. He demanded re-election in polling stations, where women voter turnout was zero. Mr Saeed said he had written to the chief election commissioner for the purpose, but to no avail yet.

SUN executive member Huma Shakir, who was also in attendance, said her organisation had carried out a campaign before May 11 to motive women to cast vote.

She said women had reportedly gone to polling station in Bharthana union council on May 11 but were stopped from casting vote.

Power transformer to be installed

Commissioner of Malakand division Dr Fakhar Alam on Monday said he that a heavy power transformer sanctioned for the district Swat would be installed here at any cost.

He said this during a meeting with a delegation of Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here.

The delegates led by SCCI president Haji Ameer Rehman apprised the commissioner of their reservations about the reported shifting of 20/26 KV power transformer from Swat to Dera Ismail Khan.

According to SCCI general sectary Mohammad Iqbal, the commissioner contacted the Pesco chief executive by the telephone at the visitors’ request and conveyed the SCCI office-bearers’ reservations.

He said the transformer approved for Swat would be installed in the area next month.

The commissioner said he would continue protecting the rights of Swat besides addressing their problems, including excessive power cuts.

Academic Expo to be held

University of Swat will hold a two-day Academic Expo from tomorrow (Wednesday) on the campus.

A spokesman for the university said students of all public sector universities will exhibit their work in the event. On the first day of the exposition, noted Pashto poets will appear in a grand mushaira to recite poems.—Correspondent