Acting CEC For Increased Participation Of Women, Disabled In Elections

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Nov, 2016 ) : Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Justice (Rtd) Irshad Qaisar Saturday said women and disabled are members of society having equal rights and their participation in electoral process is of supreme importance.

Addressing a consultative meeting here, she said that both women and disabled should equally participate in voting keeping in view their responsibilities as a citizen. The meeting was participated by representatives of civil society besides Additional Secretary Election Commission, Zafar Iqbal, Provincial Election Commissioner, Mussarrat Khan, Joint Provincial Election Commissioner KP, Ahmad Nawaz and concerned officials.

Irshad Qaisar said that National Voters Day would be celebrated on December 7 across the country to highlight importance of vote.

She said that women are 55 percent of country's total population but their ratio of participation in electoral process as candidates is very low adding involvement of disabled in election is even low as compared to women.

She said that our collective responsibility requires that each and every member of society should provide equal opportunities to women and disabled to be part of voting process. She said that suggestion and proposals of civil society to improve voting and election process would be welcomed.

Acting Election Commissioner also stressed officials to strengthen their relation with civil society and focus energies to achieve the target of desired turn out.