Tribesmen line up to cast their vote outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud, a town of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on July 20, 2019. - Pakistan's tribal areas held their first ever provincial elections on July 20 amid high security, a key step bringing the northwestern region into the political mainstream after years of turmoil fuelled by militancy. (Photo by ABDUL MAJEED / AFP) — AFP or licensors

In pictures: First provincial polls in KP's tribal areas draw large numbers

Polling was held for 16 general seats of the provincial assembly.
Dawn.com | AP Published July 20, 2019

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s merged tribal districts made history as they held general elections for the first time on Saturday.

Polling was held for 16 general seats of the provincial assembly.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had set up 1,897 polling stations across the region, previously called Fata. Of them, 554 had been declared highly sensitive and 461 sensitive.

Polling took place from 8am to 5pm with a fairly large voter participation, including women.

Zabit Khan Afridi, a college student, was among the voters who lined up outside a polling station in Khyber district near the provincial capital, Peshawar.

“I am glad to cast my first ever vote on a historic day for tribal people... I believe the fate of tribal people is changing,” Afridi said.

Voters line up outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP
Voters line up outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP

Tribesmen seen queued up to cast their vote outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP
Tribesmen seen queued up to cast their vote outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP

Tribesmen interact with an election official in a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP
Tribesmen interact with an election official in a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP

A security personnel searches tribesmen as they line up outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP
A security personnel searches tribesmen as they line up outside a polling station for the first provincial elections in Jamrud. — AFP

Women voters flash their inked thumbs following their ballots being cast. — PTI official Twitter account
Women voters flash their inked thumbs following their ballots being cast. — PTI official Twitter account

People proudly wave the flag as they come out to vote. — PTI official Twitter account
People proudly wave the flag as they come out to vote. — PTI official Twitter account

Men of all ages participating in the voting process. — PTI official Twitter account
Men of all ages participating in the voting process. — PTI official Twitter account

Voters are seen displaying the Pakistani flag as they gather to vote. — PTI official Twitter account
Voters are seen displaying the Pakistani flag as they gather to vote. — PTI official Twitter account

A tribesman casts his vote during an election for provincial seats in Jamrud, a town of Khyber district. — AP
A tribesman casts his vote during an election for provincial seats in Jamrud, a town of Khyber district. — AP

Tribesmen wait their turn to cast their vote at outside a polling station in Jamrud. — AP
Tribesmen wait their turn to cast their vote at outside a polling station in Jamrud. — AP

An elderly voter casts his ballot as others wait their turn at a polling station in Jamrud. — AP
An elderly voter casts his ballot as others wait their turn at a polling station in Jamrud. — AP

An election worker prepares the ballot paper for a tribesman waiting to cast his vote at a polling station in Jamrud. — AP
An election worker prepares the ballot paper for a tribesman waiting to cast his vote at a polling station in Jamrud. — AP

An election worker marks the thumb of voter in a polling station during an election for provincial seats in Jamrud. — AP
An election worker marks the thumb of voter in a polling station during an election for provincial seats in Jamrud. — AP

A paramilitary soldier stands guard while tribal women leave a polling station after voting in Jamrud. — AP
A paramilitary soldier stands guard while tribal women leave a polling station after voting in Jamrud. — AP

Paramilitary soldiers stand guard while another frisks a tribesman arriving to cast his vote at outside a polling station in Jamrud. — AP
Paramilitary soldiers stand guard while another frisks a tribesman arriving to cast his vote at outside a polling station in Jamrud. — AP

An elderly man getting a ballot paper at a polling station for PK-107 during the first Provincial Assembly election in the merged districts in Khyber area. — APP
An elderly man getting a ballot paper at a polling station for PK-107 during the first Provincial Assembly election in the merged districts in Khyber area. — APP

A senior citizen casting his vote in PK-107 during the first Provincial Assembly election in the merged districts in Khyber area. — APP
A senior citizen casting his vote in PK-107 during the first Provincial Assembly election in the merged districts in Khyber area. — APP

A fully clad woman casting her vote in PK-107 during the first Provincial Assembly election in the merged districts in Khyber area. — APP
A fully clad woman casting her vote in PK-107 during the first Provincial Assembly election in the merged districts in Khyber area. — APP

Comments (38) Closed
M. Saeed
Jul 20, 2019 11:34pm
Highly encouraging to see tribal people voting their democratic right in such a big way, including the female voters.
Recommend 0
Mindshare, TX
Jul 20, 2019 11:39pm
Tribal districts zinda baad, Pakistan Zindabaad
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jaredlee007
Jul 20, 2019 11:41pm
Excellent first step.
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Khan
Jul 20, 2019 11:48pm
Good to see tribal areas coming to main stream.these are not that much of tribal areas as eduction has flourished in previous two decades or so
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jk
Jul 20, 2019 11:50pm
well done people of kp best wishes from all the fellow citizen of pakistan pakistan zindabad
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Saad Khan
Jul 20, 2019 11:51pm
Wonderful and beautiful photos, we are very happy see this development, Inshallah will continue and our brothers will get all facilities of education and administrative law and order.
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Zak
Jul 20, 2019 11:55pm
Their love and enthusiasm for Pakistan is awe inspiring. A great day. It should be celebrated.
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ajmal
Jul 20, 2019 11:59pm
These people will have a representative to talk to govt. on their behalf.
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Just Saying
Jul 21, 2019 12:09am
Well done Pakistan, now hold a free and fair election for the national assembly.
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Munawar A K
Jul 21, 2019 12:24am
Glad to see remote regions of Pakistan finally getting the taste of democratic medicine. It is relevant to comment here that the prosperity of Pakistan is in the collective as well as integral unification, no country cannot ever make rapid progress without taking its integral and remote parts along with itself down the road of ups and downs.
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Jamil Soomro, New York City
Jul 21, 2019 12:43am
So happy to see the KP's Tribal Areas finally have come at par with Sindh,Punjab and Balochistan in voting for the first time.Pakistan is becoming an exemplary Democracy.
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MALIK W AHMAD
Jul 21, 2019 12:54am
Wonderful pictures, and may you my countrymen have peace and prosperity, stop all the hatred and live happily------your brother from USA.
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DARA KHAN
Jul 21, 2019 01:11am
Awesome
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Fareed N
Jul 21, 2019 02:11am
A day to remember , a peaceful polling, FATA becoming a true integral part of KPK. Now is the time to start rebuilding war torn areas. hospitals, schools , roads etc.
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Mazhar
Jul 21, 2019 02:24am
My love Pakistan my romance Pak Army..
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FIDA SARDAR HUSSAIN
Jul 21, 2019 02:55am
A great collaborative effort by the Govt and our beloved Armed Forces! Also, full credit to our brothers and sisters who have shown fantastic resilience and commitment to the motherland. Thank you all and salute to your patriotism.
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Dr Ahmad - Melbourne
Jul 21, 2019 03:40am
Patriotic and brave people of Pakistan.
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durrani
Jul 21, 2019 03:42am
This is awesome congratulations Pakistan slap on the face of enemies
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Sane One
Jul 21, 2019 04:13am
People don't realize how powerful one feels when they get the right to vote.
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Junaid Imran Mahmood
Jul 21, 2019 04:17am
These people want what everyone wants: Jobs, Education and Health Care. Well done and keep working hard. You have a voice make it heard and make the government accountable don't accept corruption and broken promises which you had for the past 50 years from PPP/PML-N.
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Imtiaz
Jul 21, 2019 05:00am
Yes It's Good to see the 1st elections of FATAs history. People of FATA have given their verdict. But the results are not courageous for the incumbent govt. Being a eyewitness of the election process, i felt that the main culprit behind the bad results for pti was wrong selection of their condidates. Most of the PTI's condidates were from fuedal backgrounds and had notorious past. Now the ppl are politically aware and have ability to reject the culture of Fuedalism, Khaneism, Royalism and imperialism. Kaptaan should review his policies if he wishes to make NAYA Pakistan..
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|Saeed Ahmed
Jul 21, 2019 05:28am
A friend of mine asked me once what I will do for Pakistan if I get one day as head of government of Pakistan. My reply was shorter than a sentence that I will give equal rights to tribal areas and people of Baluchistan. In this regard, my deam comes true today.
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Haroon cma
Jul 21, 2019 06:29am
Excellent development.
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Fareed N
Jul 21, 2019 06:42am
A day to remember , people enthusiastically coming to polling booth, first time FATA becomes integral part of KP with representation in provincial and national assemblies . Now is the time to rebuild war torn areas, build roads, hospitals,schools.
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Jawad Lahori
Jul 21, 2019 09:50am
Amazing to see the KPK tribal areas voting for their first time. This is what democracy looks like. I’m so happy to see the women voters participating and exercising their rights. Democracy at its best. Wish you all best my lovely people. Pakistan Zindabad Imran Khan zindabad.
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Chaudhry Ali Raza
Jul 21, 2019 09:51am
great scenes tribal s exercising their democratic right
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Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Jul 21, 2019 11:17am
Right to vote is a meaningful exercise for world building.
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Umair
Jul 21, 2019 12:22pm
Great work... Should be done long back....after the separation
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Khan Kashkol
Jul 21, 2019 12:54pm
Seemingly A big step for managed democracy, however few steps back in reality considering total blackout of PTM?
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thinking
Jul 21, 2019 01:16pm
@Sane One, only the men feel powerful..the number of women vs men that have voted shows in the pics. So keeping 40% of population out of voting(considering 10% women voted and half population is almost women)
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Amjad
Jul 21, 2019 01:33pm
Congratulations to the brave and resilient people of X-FATA regions
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The Truth Spy
Jul 21, 2019 02:09pm
What is the outcome?
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Rashid
Jul 21, 2019 06:01pm
Mulana Fazal Rehman opposed the merger and see people rejected him.
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Rashid
Jul 21, 2019 06:05pm
Sad day in India and Afghanistan.
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Hafeez
Jul 21, 2019 06:25pm
Great step of govt. To hold elections free and fair. Happy to see Pakistani flags flowing everywhere
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Vorshal Handa
Jul 21, 2019 10:14pm
@Zak, - Pathetic look of backwardness on display of some voters and some spectators. You cannot improve their lot in a thousand years.
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Vorshal Handa
Jul 21, 2019 10:25pm
@Haroon cma, - Well contrived.
Recommend 0
kAMRAN KHAN
Jul 21, 2019 10:44pm
Well done Pakistani public
Recommend 0

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