A controversial ‘decree’ barring women in Darel Valley from voting in legislative assembly elections in Gilgit-Baltistan was retracted earlier yesterday.
As a result, women will be allowed to vote for the very first time in Darel.
The decision was taken yesterday after Darel AC Samiullah Farooqi assured community elders that separate polling booths for women will be established where only women will be staffed.
“The negotiations were successful and the issue stands resolved,” he said. “For the very first time, women will vote [in Darel],” Farooqi told the media.
According to the AC, negotiations had been ongoing with community representatives for two days.
“Representatives wanted separate polling booths for women, which will be staffed by only female officials,” he said.
“Since we have agreed to these demands, the jirga has decided to retract the decree.”
When asked about the number of polling booths set up for women, Farooqi said a final decision has yet to be made in this regard.
“The relevant authorities will account for the availability of resources to decide the number of polling booths for women,” he added.
According to Farooqi, candidates who were a part of the jirga earlier this week for issuing the decree have submitted their written responses to a show-cause notice issued on May 2.
“The candidates have submitted their written responses to the show-cause notices issued,” he said.
“We are examining the evidence before we decide to take a final decision.”
The show-cause notice was issued to the jirga by the G-B Election Commission nearly two days after it issued the controversial decree which threatened to disenfranchise roughly 15,000 women.
