116 polling stations declared sensitive in Lakki

LAKKI MARWAT: The administration has declared 116 polling stations sensitive in the Lakki Marwat district as sensitive for the local government elections slated for May 30, official sources said.
The sources said most of the stations declared sensitive included Tajazai, Abbakhel, Takhtikhel, Chowarkhel, Jangkhel, Shamoni Khattak, Daraka Sulemankhel, Tajori, Bragi and Walai Sagai.
The sources said that the woman voters had been disallowed to use their right to vote in the past elections in certain villages and added that the practice might continue in the local government elections as well.
Some of the villages where the women voters were banned to cast their votes included Gaoraka Shah Hussain, Gaoraka Saeedkhel, Mirazam Khankhel, Daraka Sulemankhel, Bragi, Walai Sagai, Bhana Manjiwala and Mandan Manjiwala.
District Police Officer (DPO) Syed Ali Akbar Shah said that all the security arrangements have been finalised for holding the local government elections in a peaceful environment.He said that in addition to the police personnel, the security forces would also be deployed at almost all the polling stations specially the sensitive ones.
Talking to The News, Deputy Commissioner Lakki Marwat Ishanullah Khan said that the district administration had made all efforts for the conduction of the local government in the district. He said that a meeting of the Marwat Qaumi Jirga (MQJ) was held at the office of the deputy commissioner the other day in connection with the upcoming elections.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly Col (r) Dr Amiruallah Marwat, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Munawar Khan advocate, MPA Anwar Hayat, MPA Noor Saleem, Chairman of the MQJ Haji Muhammad Aslam Khan Issakkhel, military and civil officials attended the meeting.
Regarding the issue of the women voters, the deputy commissioner said that all the women would be allowed to come and exercise their right to franchise on the polling day. “A quick response force (QRF) comprising security forces and policemen would be on standby to counter any eventuality during the polling day,” the official added.
Assistant Political Agent (APA) Frontier Region (FR) Lakki Marwat Abdul Kabir Mullagori said, “My duty is to ensure availability of vehicles for the shifting of officials to the polling stations.” He said that about 40 vehicles had been arranged for the purpose and added that Rs4,000 would be paid to each driver for performing duty on the polling day.