BUNER, Oct 18: The district election commissioner Peer Maqbool Ahmed Khan has blamed low turnout in elections on ‘no female voting’ trend in the district and appealed to all stakeholders for motivating community to ensure women participate the upcoming elections.

Addressing a seminar here the other day he shared previous results of elections conducted in Buner district. He said voter turnout in Buner was recorded in the 2008 elections as 27 per cent for NA-28, 32.95 per cent for KP-77, 26.47 per cent for KP-78 and 23.54 per cent for KP-79, respectively.

Lawyers, journalists, civil society members, educationists and officials of police and local administration participated in the seminar and suggested various steps for improving turnout in elections.

They called for separate polling stations for women with tight security, end to open voting at table and handing it over to candidate’s agent and establishment of stations nearest to localities for ensuring easy access of voters. —  Correspondent