ISLAMABAD: Two provincial chapters of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday stated that any area where women are stopped from voting or face hindrances during the election could face disqualification from the election in its constituency.
As the country prepares for elections on July 25, the ECP’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan chapters took notice of some reported deals that had been made to not allow local women to vote.
“The results of any constituency would be declared invalid should the female turnout be lower than 10 per cent,” said the ECP officials, adding, “any person found involved in or facilitating such a deal may face up to three years in prison.”
According to Pir Maqbool Ahmed, the provincial election commissioner, “The candidates for the upcoming general election and other leaders and politicians should try to ensure that all women take part in the voting process.”
“Further steps will be taken to stop such deals from materialising in the first place,” he added.