In a first, women candidates to contest polls from KP's Kohistan, Torghar districts

• Nomination papers submitted by women aspirants on Imran's advice.
• Women candidates contest for first time from Torghar, Kohistan.
• Nomination papers of all candidates cleared by ROs.

MANSEHRA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's ultraconservative Kohistan and Torghar districts will now witness a diverse contest in the upcoming February 8 general elections, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to field its women candidates in the polls, The News reported on Monday.

The PTI Women Wing Divisional General Secretary Shakeela Rabbani said the party doesn't claim to be a champion of women's rights but has practically proven their commitment towards women empowerment, as its women aspirants have submitted their nomination papers on PTI founder Imran Khan's advice.

"We have submitted our nomination papers in Kohistan and Torghar districts," Rabbani said, speaking with journalists on Sunday.

The candidates’ lists of Torghar and Kohistan districts constituencies for the first time in the country’s history saw names of woman aspirants and the nomination papers of all the candidates have been cleared by their respective returning officers (ROs).

Rabbani has been participating in general elections from the tribal belt of Mansehra district NA-41 Torghar, and the RO of that constituency gave her a clean chit to sail in electioneering from here.

The PTI’s Divisional President (women wing) Uzma Riaz, who is also a former provincial lawmaker of her party, has been contesting elections from PK-31 Upper Kohistan.

Her party’s other leaders Tehmina Faheem and Rina Anwar have also submitted their nomination papers from that constituency. The PTI central governing body’s member, Momina Basit, is also in the running from KP-33 of Kolai-Palas (Kohistan) and her nomination papers have also been cleared by the RO concerned.

Rabbani said her party was giving due importance to issues faced by the women in such remote parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

"We have the distinction of having our women’s chapter in Upper Kohistan, which is a record and its president Rina Anwar, a daughter of soil, stands among PTI's probable list to find an opportunity to run from here," she said.