Hundreds of women from various parts of Kurram Agency on Wednesday took to the streets and organised a sit-in, alleging widespread rigging in their area, adding that they had been deprived of their right to vote.
The protesting women demanded re-election in at least 10 polling stations of NA-37.
According to details, hundreds of women from Turi tribe went on sit in front of a political agent’s office soon after general elections.
Shazia, one of the protesters, while talking to Pakistan Today, alleged that one of the contesting candidates had deprived thousands of women of their voting rights with help of polling staff and political administration.
Explaining further, Shazia said that on May 11, doors of polling stations had been locked and polling booths were occupied by supports of one candidate. The occupants of the polling station stamped almost 9,000 ballot papers in favour of one candidate whereas the number of registered voters was only 3,000, she added.
Similarly another protester Zubaida Bibi alleged involvement of political administration and Levies personnel and Khasadar forces in rigging of elections.
“All these officials have helped one candidate get maximum votes,” she claimed, adding that in some of the polling stations, turnout had been over 200 percent. She claimed that women voters had also been beaten by officials.
The protesting women demanded re-elections in at least 10 polling stations. Both Shazia and Zubaida Bibi demanded re-elections under the direct supervision of the armed forces. They said they had no trust in the political administration or teachers from the Education Department.
Keeping in view allegations of rigging and mismanagement, the Election Commission of Pakistan stopped results of NA-37 of Kurram Agency whereas polls on NA-38 had been delayed due to a poor law and order situation.
