ECP takes notice of prevention of women voters from participating in Chakwal by-polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday took suo motu notice of the alleged barring of women voters in a recently held by-poll held in Chakwal.

The ECP took notice of the matter after receiving a letter from a returning officer who supervised the by-polls in PP-23 Chakwal on April 18 stating that women had not cast their votes at six polling stations.

Shahryar Awan from the ruling PML-N had secured victory in the PP-23 by-polls.

“We got to know from the returning officer that not a single woman cast her vote at six polling stations,” an ECP official said, after which the body took notice of the case and fixed the matter for hearing tomorrow (Wednesday).

It will be taken up by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Retd Sardar Raza. Notices have been issued to the returning officer as well as all contesting candidates to appear before the commission on May 3.

The ECP in the past took suo motu notice of reports that women were barred from casting votes in PK-95 Dir. Later, the polls were declared null and void over the issue of disenfranchisement of women.

Source: Dawn