BANNU: The women of Farakh Zad, a neighborhood in Mamash Khel, Bannu, have set a notable precedent in Pakistan’s General Elections 2024 by achieving the highest voter turnout at a single polling station. This station, serving Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from NA-40 North Waziristan, reported an extraordinary 93 percent turnout among women voters.
Official results from the Election Commission of Pakistan revealed that 3,257 out of 3,489 registered women cast their ballots at this polling station on February 8, 2024. This turnout not only surpasses those in major urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad but is also remarkable for its accuracy, with no ballots excluded or declared invalid.
The overwhelming majority of these women voters supported the JUI-F candidate, who secured 3,220 votes at this polling station. The PTI candidate, in contrast, received just 37 votes. Despite JUI-F’s claims of electoral challenges from non-state actors, the party’s candidate won the constituency, although the overall turnout there remained low at 33 percent.
The participation of Farakh Zad’s women is particularly significant against the backdrop of security concerns and political unrest reported during these elections, especially in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Their determination to vote, despite these challenges, underscores a story of civic courage and political engagement that stands out in the election narrative.
The media and political parties are urged to acknowledge the bravery of these women who, amidst potential threats, demonstrated a strong commitment to participating in the democratic process.