LOWER DIR (Web Desk) – Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has retained the PK-95 (Lower Dir-II) seat with a decisive margin in a male-voters-only by-election, local media reported.
JI’s Lower Dir Ameer (chief) Aizaz-ul-Mulk Afkari scooped up 18,711 while Awami National Party’s (ANP) Bahadur Khan got away with 16,403 votes as the runner-up, according to unofficial results.
On the other hand, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) candidate Anwar Khan secured just 91 votes, independent Obaiduillah Sajid 24 , Liaquat Ali 17, Maulana Ziaul Haq 304, and Mirzada got 102 votes.
A total of 38284 were polled while 1273 votes rejected.
The bye-election was held in the constituency after JI Ameer (chief) Sirajul Haq stepped down as member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly in the favour of a senatorial seat.
Earlier, voting for the by-elections in PK-95 constituency held peacefully amid tight security arrangements .
There are around 140,743 registered voters for the 85 polling stations across the constituency. Out of a total 85 about 33 polling stations were declared sensitive.
Thouugh, JI chief Sirajul Haq had appealed to the female voters to exercise their right to vote but not a single woman was allowed even go near a polling station, which is why the turnout was alarmingly low and clearly male-dominated.
Women’s turnout is usually weak in the most conservative, rural parts of Pakistan, particularly within the tribal belt, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
