FRESH POLL ORDERED IN POLLING STATIONS OF NOWSHERA AND SWABI DISTRICTS WHERE FEMALE VOTERS WERE PREVENTED TO CAST THEIR VOTES
—KANWAR MUHAMMAD DILSHAD
SECRETARY ELECTION COMMISSION
Islamabad, the 24th August, 2005.- Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Federal Secretary, Election Commission has said that Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan has declared the poll held on 18th August, 2005 as null and void at seven polling stations of Nowshera and Swabi districts where women voters were not allowed to cast their votes.
2. In a detailed Order issued today, the Acting Chief Election Commissioner has said that it is a fundamental right of every citizen who has been registered as a voter to exercise his or her right of franchise freely and that this right, being inherent in every registered voter cannot be foregone and forsaken on any ground whatsoever or by any person how high-so-ever, he may be. He has further stated that refraining from voting, impeding or preventing from exercise of franchise is an electoral offence.
3. Secretary Election Commission further said that the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner has declared the poll which was held on 18th August, 2005 as null and void at the following polling stations of Union Council Jahangira-II and Union Council Pir Piai of Nowshera district and Union Council Pabini of Swabi district:
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1.
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Union Council, Jehangira-II
District Nowshera
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(1)
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Polling station No. 5, Govt Girls High School, Jehangira-II (Female-I)
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(2)
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Polling station No. 6, Govt. Girls High School, Jehangira (Female-II)
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(3)
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Polling station No. 7 Govt. Girls Primary School, Jehangira (Female)
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2.
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Union Council, Pir Piai
District Nowshera
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(1)
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Polling station No. 1 Govt. Girls High School, Pir Piai
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(2)
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Polling station No. 2 Govt. Girls High School, Pir Piai
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(3)
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Polling station No. 4 Govt. Girls Primary School, Pir Piai (CMS No. 4).
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3.
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Union Council, Pabini
District Swabi
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Government Primary School, Malakabad (Pabini)
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Re-polling at above polling stations will be held on a date to be notified separately.
4. Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has also instructed District Police Officers, Nowshera and Swabi districts to initiate legal proceedings against the persons involved in the aforesaid illegal act of preventing women to cast their votes.