Police in northwestern Pakistan are initiating an inquiry after receiving complaints that two dead women won positions at a local election held last month.

The women were elected as councilors in the Upper Dir district in the North West Frontier Province. However, both died 13 years and three years ago, respectively.

Khushalzada Khan, assistant election officer in Upper Dir, says that if the women are found to be dead, then fresh voting will be ordered in those seats. He also promises action against those who nominated them.

According to Reuters, Upper Dir is an extremely conservative region where tribal elders, with support from radical Islamic clerics, prohibited women from contesting election or casting votes in July. Hundreds of women disobeyed the ban after the central government termed the diktat unconstitutional.