ECP dispels false fatwa against women voting

Responding to studies of a purported fatwa (Islamic decree) barring ladies from voting in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Ok-P), the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP) debunked the declare on Monday, asserting its dedication to fight any restrictions on ladies’s participation in elections.

Nevertheless, the electoral physique clarified that if any girl confronted impediments in campaigning or voting through the upcoming elections, it is going to invoke Part 9 of the Elections Act to take acceptable motion.

The ECP careworn that it has the authority to declare the election course of null and void in any constituency the place ladies are unjustly barred from taking part within the electoral course of.

Prompted by circulating studies in choose media retailers, the ECP promptly responded to claims indicating {that a} group of students within the Kohistan area had purportedly issued a fatwa prohibiting ladies from taking part in election-related actions.

To analyze the matter, the electoral physique summoned a report from the district monitoring officer in Higher Kohistan, who clarified in his findings that the information was inaccurate and stemmed from a misunderstanding.

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In the meantime, Nationwide Fee on the Standing of Girls (NCSW) Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar expressed her concern and urged each the chief election commissioner and the Ok-P election commissioner to take swift motion relating to the alleged fatwa.

In a letter addressed to the CEC and Ok-P election commissioner, Bakhtiar feared that ladies may be denied the suitable to vote.

Declaring the fatwa as contradictory to Islam and the structure, the letter careworn the significance of guaranteeing equal voting rights for girls in a protected and conducive surroundings.

The NCSW chairperson known as upon election authorities to uphold the basic proper of ladies to take part within the electoral course of.