A petition was filed in Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Saturday, seeking to nullify the results of by-elections held in Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to reports, 12 women had jointly filed the petition. It said political parties had joined hands to bar women from voting in the by-elections of Dir.
Stopping women from voting was a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan, it contended. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and candidates have been made respondents in the petition. Izazul Mulk of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had won the seat, defeating Awami National Party's Bahadur Khan. The seat was vacated by JI Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq after his elevation to Senate.