Sargodha residents challenge NA-89, PP-74 results over low women turnout

Published November 23, 2018
Petition filed in LHC claims "feudal elements" in the area issued death threats to women voters. — File photo
Petition filed in LHC claims "feudal elements" in the area issued death threats to women voters. — File photo

Eleven women residents of Sargodha on Friday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) requesting that the results of July 25 general election in NA-89 and PP-74 constituencies should be declared null and void because female voters were allegedly barred from casting their vote.

The petitioners claimed that "feudal elements" in the area had issued death threats to women who wished to exercise their right to vote. Around 4,000 women in the constituency were eligible to vote, the petition says.

The Election Act, 2017, allows the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to nullify the results of a constituency where women’s turnout is less than 10 per cent of the total polled votes.

The petition filed before the high court has nominated ECP as one of the respondents. The LHC will hear the petition on Monday.

PML-N candidate Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha had emerged victorious from NA-89 (Sargodha), while PML-N's Mian Manazar Hussain Ranjha had emerged victorious from PP-74.

Earlier in August, the ECP had ordered a re-election in Shangla's constituency of PK-23 over low turnout of female voters.

The results of the polls in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly constituency, where Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Shaukat Yousafzai had emerged as the winner, were declared void.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...