PESHAWAR, May 16: A delegation of election observers from European Union met with Provincial Election Commissioner Sonu Khan Baloch here on Thursday and praised higher women voters’ turnout in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a good sign for democracy.

The election observers mission, headed by Gert-Michael Binder, informed the election commissioner about the observation they had made concerning the voters’ turnout at polling stations.

They termed the higher women turnout at various polling stations a welcome sign and the elections being overall fair and peaceful.

The delegation said that the elections were held in peaceful manner due to the efforts of provincial and federal governments and the security forces.

Mr Baloch told the delegation about various steps the Election Commission of Pakistan was taking to address complaints concerning polling.

He said that directives had been issued for holding re-polling at certain provincial and National Assembly constituencies while in some constituencies re-counting of votes was ordered, according to a press release issued by the Provincial Election Commission.

The commission said that the ECP would be holding re-polling on May 21 at provincial assembly constituencies of PK-71 (Bannu) and PK-72 and NA-41.

Directives have also been issued to hold re-polling at 21 polling stations of NA-46, and re-counting of votes at PK-10 of Peshawar and PK-52 (Haripur) besides one polling station of PK-71.

Mr Baloch said that the commission had received complaints about May 11 elections three days after the election, which were being reviewed.