PESHAWAR: Participants of a consultative session on Monday recommended cancellation of elections in polling stations, where less than 10 percent of the total women’s votes were cast.

The session titled ‘strategising for protecting women’s voting rights ahead of local body elections’ was organised by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women in collaboration with the USAID, Aurat Foundation and Election Commission of Pakistan.

MPA and women activist Meraj Hamayun was the chief guest on the occasion.

ECP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deputy director Khushalzada Khan informed participants about the steps taken for the provision of the best possible facilities to women to help them exercise their right of franchise.

A panelist told participants that in the 2013 elections, no woman cast vote in Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said women were stopped from casting vote in seven constituencies of Lower Dir district, while women were not allowed to cast vote in 17 union councils of Buner district.the Lack of awareness about CNIC is also making registration of voters difficult for illitrate women, the study added.

The panelist recommended that NGOs be encouraged to appoint observers for the polling process with a special reference to women voters.

He also said the law relating to the punishment for restriction on voters should be made more stringent, while NGOs should offer master trainers to train teachers to help women in casting votes.

Another panelist suggested that sensitisation of election candidates be done on a regular basis for their education on the importance of the women’s participation in the electoral process. Khushalzada Khan of the ECP said the commission was working to provide equal opportunities to women to cast votes.

He said more women took part in the elections in 2013 compared to previous polls.

The official said in 2013, 41 women were in the running for general seats in the province, while a women from Fata contested elections for the first time in the country’s history.

Khushalzada said the ECP had submitted a summary to the relevant authorities to make 10 per cent women’s votes mandatory for declaration of election results before the 2013 polls but it was not approved.

PCSW chairwoman Neelum Toru said empowering women was the goal of the commission, which was making every effort for the purpose.

She said the recommendations made in the consultative session would be forwarded to the relevant quarters in the centre as well as the province for consideration.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014