Daily Times

Despite having 12 elections from 1970, it can be safely said that the electoral practice is of men, by men and for men, with occasional face-saving instances of having Benazir Bhutto as the first female prime minister of Pakistan. Elections are hardly an equal opportunity for all segments of the public. It is heartening to see that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has launched the ‘Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Framework (GMSIF)’ – a four-year project. It promises inclusivity for women, minorities, persons with disabilities and transgender people in Pakistan’s fragile democracy. While ambitious and the first of its kind by the electoral administrator, the initiative faces challenges.

The political settings in our part of the world are male-dominated. Women, who constitute 46 per cent of the total voters, are not empowered enough to independently decide their votes. In most cases, male family members influence electoral choices. Women are sidelined. This imbalance distorts democratic ideals.

Political parties, too, fail to ensure fair gender representation. Despite women making up nearly half of the electorate, party tickets are overwhelmingly allocated to men. Women candidates often remain symbolic. If winnable, their candidature is decided by the male elders. They also become the first choice in unwinnable constituencies to meet quota requirements.

Thankfully, the GMSIF framework acknowledges these gaps. It proposes reforms in electoral laws, policies and procedures. Extensive consultations have been conducted with stakeholders, such as academia, parliamentarians and women’s rights organisations. Yet, implementation remains a challenge. Entrenched power structures resist real change.

Statistics paint a bleak picture. Women hold only about 20% of the seats in Pakistan’s National Assembly, despite a constitutional quota. Representation of minorities and transgender people is even lower, almost negligible. Without proactive measures, gender equality in the electoral process remains a distant dream.

Elections in Pakistan are not just a process but a reflection of societal power dynamics. For true democracy, all genders must have equal opportunities and voices. Political parties must prioritise balanced representation, and the ECP must enforce laws that empower women as voters and candidates. But the real change will occur when every single woman, every single member of minority communities and every single transperson challenges the incumbent societal and political norms. *