Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Religious Affairs and Pakistan Diaspora in Middle East and Muslim Countries, Hafiz Muhammad TahirMahmoodAshrafi has said that women have full rights to cast vote in elections. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, he emphasized the importance of voting as Pakistan is gearing up for general elections being held on February 8.
He highlighted the ongoing preparations being observed across the country for the next polls. About recent discussions on social media regarding the Shariah status of voting, Ashrafi who is also the Chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), underscored that voting was not only a civic duty but also a testimony, asserting, “If the testimony is known, it is a crime not to give it.” He extended this principle to include women’s voting rights, and emphasizing that women could not be deprived of their right to vote.
He said Pakistan Ulema Council had already issued a ‘Fatwa’ (religious decree) affirming the legality of voting, with specific arrangements in place for women to exercise their voting rights.
