KARACHI, March 16: The NGO working for women rights, Aurat Foundation, has expressed concern over the low number of nomination papers filed by women candidates in the forthcoming by-elections in certain districts of the province.

Chairperson of the NGO, Anis Haroon, speaking at a seminar/ workshop for the women candidates here on Tuesday urged the authorities to see whether the women aspirants in certain constituencies had been forced to stay away from the election.

The nationwide local bodies by-elections are being held on March 28 to fill nearly 9,700 seats, including 4,860 women seats, that have remained vacant due to various reasons. The Foundation is carrying out a campaign to mobilize women to ensure their active participation in the elections in a large number.

Ms Haroon said the initial data collected from Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Thatta and Tharparkar districts showed that an average of less than two candidates had filed their papers for the women seats.

She said that on the eve of the previous local bodies elections also, women at many places, particularly in the NWFP, Balochistan and certain districts of Sindh, had not been allowed to contest elections. In certain areas, she added, they were even not allowed to cast their votes.

She described the role of many political parties, which claimed to be progressive and liberal, as 'unfortunate' and pointed out that local leadership had entered into agreements on restricting women participation in the elections. She regretted that their central leadership, despite having been informed, did not take any action against the local leaders.

Other speakers, Atta-ur-Rehman of the Election Commission, Mohammad Bux Jarwar from the Local Government Department, Aslam Brohi, Naheed Syed, Lala Hassan Pathan and Rifat Yasmin, urged the women candidates of the forthcoming polls to run a campaign vigorous enough to ensure their win as they had to play due role in the elected Houses.

The speakers told the participants that elections were being held on the basis of separate electorate system. The old NICs would be valid for casting a vote. A two-hour session on how to cast vote correctly was also held.