TIMERGARA: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday announced a fresh schedule for re-polling for LG seats and in certain polling stations where the turnout of women voters remained less than 10 per cent in the Feb 20 by-elections in Lower Dir.
The ECP fixed April 14 for re-polling in such local government constituencies.
Talking to this correspondent, district election officer Noor Khan Khattak said that the ECP had taken notice of low turnout of women voters. Re-polling on 21 seats of local government seats, including two of tehsil councils’ wards, 13 seats of general councillors, five of youth councillors and one seat of peasant workers, were held in different parts of Lower Dir on Feb 20.
The ECP has not notified the results so far over the issue of women’s disenfranchisement. Though over 1,700 women had exercised their right to vote in Feb 20 LG by-election, the ECP had not notified the winning candidates over low turnout of women voters.
Mr Khattak said that 10 per cent of women turnout at each polling station was mandatory. The ECP, he said, had fixed April 14 for re-polling in three polling stations of Shahikhel Talash, whole tehsil council ward of Samar Bagh, whole village council of Tazagram, Khungi, Babagam Maidan, and one polling station each of Lajbok and Ouch.
FUNDS APPROVED: The Lower Dir district council on Wednesday approved Rs278.6 million for completion of various development projects.
The approval was given during the council session held here with its convener Abdul Rasheed in the chair. District nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan sought approval of funds for the ongoing schemes in the district, which the house approved.
Council members Mohammad Zeb, Shad Nawaz, Abdullah Shah and others while speaking on the occasion condemned the officers of soil conservation for their alleged misbehaviour with councillor Qaisar Ali.
Meanwhile, the annual parents day function of a private school and college was held here on Wednesday.
Ms Sidra Hasan, a first year student who had topped the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Malakand, in the annual examinations 2017 got the ‘student of the year’ award. Mohammad Hassan Khan, father of the student, was chief guest on the occasion. He advised the students to prepare themselves for taking on future challenges. Earlier, principal Mohammad Khaliq presented the school’s annual report.
Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018
