ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered fresh polls in seven polling stations of Nowshera and Swabi districts after cancelling elections held in the first phase of the local government elections for not allowing women to caste their votes.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar also directed the district police officers of Nowshera and Swabi to initiate legal proceedings against those involved in preventing women from casting their votes.

A date for re-polling in three polling stations each in union council Jehangira-II and Pir Pial in district Nowshera and one in UC Pabini, district Swabi, will be announced later.

Upon receiving complaints, the CEC earlier had asked the respective district returning officers (DROs) to pinpoint UCs in the NWFP where women were forced not to cast votes.

“Refraining from voting, impeding or preventing from exercise of franchise is an electoral offence,” observed the CEC in his order.

It is a fundamental right of every citizen, registered as a voter, to exercise his or her right of franchise freely and that this right, being inherent in every registered voter, cannot be foregone and forsaken on any ground whatsoever,” the CEC said.

The CEC also announced re-polling in different UCs in Punjab, the NWFP and Sindh where RTOs had terminated proceedings due to death of contesting candidates.

However, candidates who had earlier filed their nomination papers for different categories in respective UCs need not to file fresh nomination papers, but fresh candidates will have to file their nomination papers along with candidature fee in accordance with the law.

In Punjab, polling will be held on Sept 5 while nomination papers could be filed from Aug 25 for different categories of seat in seven UCs namely peasant/workers in UC-11 Dab, District Chakwal, Muslim (General) in UC-21 Bhong District Rahimyar Khan, Muslim (General) in UC-53 Nandi Pur Town District Gujranwala, Peasant/Workers UC-87 Tehsil Mian Channu District Khanewal, Muslim (General) UC Tola District Narowal, Muslim (General) UC-77 Alomahar, District Sialkot, Muslim (women) UC-56 Chicawatni District Sahiwal.

In the NWFP, polling will be held on Sept 8 while nomination papers could be filed from Aug 25 for elections in different categories in five UCs namely Muslim (General) in UC Tank City-II District Tank, Muslim (General) in UC Dhap Shumali District D.I. Khan, Peasants/Workers UC Sherkot District Kohat, Peasant/Workers UC Paloosi District Peshawar and Muslim (General) UC Yakatoot-II District Peshawar.

In Sindh, polling will be held on Sept 5 in three UCs namely Peasant/Workers in UC-9 Larkana District Larkana, Nazim/Naib Nazim in UC-3 Jamsheed Town, Karachi and Nazim/Naib Nazim in UC-2 Daryaabad of Lyari Town District Karachi.