NOWSHERA: As by-elections are underway across the country, women voters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Nowshera and other areas were barred from casting their votes.
Sources said representatives of political parties and local tribal elders had an agreement under which women voters in Nowshera’s NA-5 constituency and other areas would not be allowed to go to polling stations and cast their votes.
They said the deal was struck in the wake of Taliban’s threat to women voters.
On Wednesday, banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reportedly warned women of Hangu not to take part in Thursday’s by-polls, otherwise they will be kidnapped and killed.
The threat was conveyed through leaflets found by people in Hangu bazaar.
Women in Upper Dir and Lower Dir were also barred from voting by political parties in May 11 general elections this year.
Meanwhile, spokesman to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that action would be taken against those who disallow women would face the music.
Polling in by-elections on 41 National and Provincial Assemblies seats is in progress across the country, with over 500 candidates in the fray.
The polling began at 08-00 in the morning and will continue till 05.00 in the evening without any break.
The seats include 15 of the National Assembly and 26 provincial assemblies for which around 8.5 million voters will cast their votes.
