ISLAMABAD: In order to ensure participation of women in the upcoming polls, amendments have been made to the sections of Representation of Peoples Act, 1976, which empowers the Election Commission of Pakistan to declare by-polls in any constituency null and void in case of lack of female voters.

The bill was presented by the Pakistan People?s Party Senator Sherry Rehman in the National Assembly. In the session on Thursday, sections 78 and 103 AAA of the RPA were amended.

The section 78 can lead to disqualification of a candidate found involved in the abuse of power or using undue pressure, which involves stopping a woman from casting a vote.

Whereas, the amendment to Section 103 AAA gives the ECP authority to declare a by-poll null and void if irregularities are reported from a constituency during the voting process. The section also empowers the ECP to launch an inquiry if there exist reports claiming wrongdoing in by-polls.

The appeal against the ECP?s decisions would only be submitted to the Supreme Court.

The Senate had referred the bill to the lower house for approval, after giving it a green signal in March 2017.

The bill requires the authorities to make separate lists based on gender for every polling station.

Due to the lack of gender segregate lists in the past, the reports of lack of participation from women in different constituencies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan could not be verified.

The reports claimed that women could not participate in the voting process due to secret agreements among political parties or contestants.

The bill would come to enactment after being signed from the President?s office.