The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker government on Saturday claimed that adequate arrangements and a better co-ordination mechanism between law enforcement agencies foiled the evil designs of anti-state actors for disrupting elections. "All security challenges had successfully averted in way of holding impartial and secure electoral process by the well-co-ordinated efforts of the government and law enforcement agencies, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Minister for Information, Mussarat Qadeem while talking to media persons here on Saturday.
She said the government had focussed on security issues, making adequate arrangements for an environment conducive for polls, adding that the administration and line departments had played pivotal role in this regard. The minister also praised the law enforcement agencies and security forces for extending co-operation in maintaining law and order situation during the elections. She said that the government had spent over Rs 160 million for election security. More than 81,000 police personnel actively performed duties at various polling stations in the province, he said.
"We had taken precautionary steps and mobilised all kind of resources for conducting free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections, Ms Qadeem said. "Efforts of anti-state elements were not succeeded to sabotage election by carrying out their nefarious activities, she claimed. Though, she said there was some incidents of violence were reported. She said the voters had shown eagerness in using their right to vote, which was an encouraging sign. "I personally visited a number of women's polling stations, where a large number of women exercising their constitutional right," she maintained.
Flanked by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Minister for Home, Fayyaz Toru, and secretary information, Azmat Haneef Orakzai, Ms Qadeem said that the women voters turnout was higher than the elections in 2008. Regarding the barring of women for casting vote in district Dir, she said that the government had informed the Election Commission of Pakistan in time about this agreement to bar women from voting. Only 72 minor incidents of violence and terrorists acts were reported between March and May 9 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said Fayyaz Toru.