BANNU, March 29: Tribal elders in the district reportedly barred women from casting their vote in the by-election of NA-26 held on Thursday. Except for a few polling stations, all others gave a deserted look as there were neither female voters nor female polling agents of any candidate. However, female polling staff with required election material were present at the booths.

“The tribal elders in a meeting decided that no woman would be allowed to cast her vote in the election,” polling agents and other people told reporters. However, despite restrictions women voters were seen casting their vote at five polling stations in the city limits.

In the Mohmand Khel area, armed men reportedly belonging to a religious party forcibly entered a polling station and cast 69 bogus votes.

According to unofficial results announced by a private TV channel, Ziad Durrani of the MMA had won the by-election.