HARIPUR, July 24: Women activists of the People’s Party Parliamentarians took out a rally to protest against the decision of some political parties banning women candidates from taking part in local council polls in the Battagram district and depriving them of their voting right in Swat, Dir and Kohistan districts.

The Pakistan Muslim League and JUI-F leadership and former nazims of the Battagram district and tehsil had agreed not to field women for the local council polls in the district.

The rally, led by PPP provincial president Mehrun Nisa Afridi and Dr Faiza Rasheed, started from Basti Hakim Abdul Rasheed and marched through Sain Sehaili road.

The protesters chanted slogans against the political parties that had banned women voters from casting votes or participate in the election.

Addressing the participants, the women leaders denounced the decision and termed it against the religious norms and country’s Constitution.