'Full women participation in polls to be ensured'

All-out efforts will be made to ensure that women in the province in general and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in particular could cast their votes in the general elections on May 11, Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Shaukatullah Khan said on Friday
Talking to media persons after meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari here, Shaukatullah presented a satisfactory picture of the law and order situation in KPK and Fata, saying that security situation had improved. The situation in the province was quite unlike 2008 general elections, when terrorists were firing rockets at homes of candidates across KPK and Fata. "If elections can be held in Afghanistan, why not in Pakistan", he said, while answering a question whether the security situation would allow the holding of the general elections in a secure environment.
Terming the election a historic occasion, he said that it was for the first time in the country's 66-year-long history that one civilian government will supercede another through a vote, adding that extending the Political Parties Act to the tribal areas was another landmark achievement.
This will also be the first time in the country's history that elections would be held on the basis of political parties in Fata, he said. Commenting on report of that women were barred from voting in parts of the province and Fata, he said that women in the tribal areas were also going to make history in the general elections. He pointed out that two women candidates were also in the run for the general elections from tribal areas.
The governor said that efforts would also be made to ensure that women were not deprived of their right to vote. He said that the government will also under take measures to improve the security situation and provide a secure environment for voters. Earlier, the Governor and Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Tariq Pervez called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency and discussed overall situation in the province and tribal areas.
According to a press statement, the governor briefed the president on the law and order situation in Fata. They also discussed matters relating to free and fair election in the province. The governor and chief minister apprised the president about preparations being made by the provincial government to ensure holding of free‚ fair and transparent elections. The governor also briefed the president measures being taken for holding free and fair elections in tribal areas.