Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The upcoming elections will give important opportunities to experience the impact of legal and administrative reforms to increase women’s political participation,” said Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Monday.

She was addressing a Peoples’ Assembly on Women’s Leadership in Politics and Public life jointly organised by Omar Asghar Khan Foundation in Islamabad in coolarboration with NCSW. The seminar

The officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) attended the seminar and emphasised the role of women to elect the leadership in their respective constituencies.

Nighat Siddique Additional Director General (Gender) ECP said that political parties are bound to give at least 5 per cent tickets to women on general seats. Failure to do so may result in withholding allotment of the party symbol. “This is commendable, but the modality for allotting tickets should also be defined,” suggested a participant.

Siddique explained that the ECP now has greater authority to take action against any agreement to prevent women from voting. “The ECP can nullify the result of any constituency where women’s votes are less than 10%,” she said. Additionally, administrative reforms include the requirement to provide sex-disaggregated voters’ data. Responding to a question, Ms. Siddique said that presiding officers have been trained on every step of counting so that disaggregated data is available.

Siddique said differently-abled voters will be able to use the postal ballot. Ramps will also be installed in polling stations for them. She explained that the ECP’s training of the 850,000 polling staff included emphasis on giving priority to pregnant women, elderly and transgender voters.

Women rights activist Tahira Abdullah said that Polling agents should also be given standard training.

Nahid Aziz presented a comparative analysis of party manifestoes prepared with the support of Omar Asghar Khan Foundation. “Many manifestoes have positive measures for women like increasing their representation in local government, higher judiciary and public sector institutions, but actions against pledges must also be assessed,” she explained. Ms. Aziz recommended clear commitments must be made. “Vague references like, significant participation, should be avoided,” she said.

Awami National Party’s Senior Vice President, Bushra Gohar, said that the ECP must assert its role and authority. She commended the outgoing assembly for the passage of the Elections Act 2017. “This law will deter instances like the by-election of PK95 in which not a single woman was allowed to vote,” she said. Ms. Aisha Syed of the Jamaat-e-Islami/MMA recommended transparent internal party procedures for nominating women on reserved seats. “Reservation of seats is an important first step for increasing the number of women legislators. Follow up is needed to trace their actions to effectively represent women’s interests,” recommended Ms. Khawar Mumtaz.

“Laws, administrative reforms are important despite the daunting realties faced by women as voters, electoral contestants and legislators,” said Omar Asghar Khan Foundation’s Executive Director, Rashida Dohad. She said that across-the-board, consistent efforts are needed to ensure affirmative measures result in increasing women’s political participation. The assembly is part of the Foundation’s programme: She Can Lead, supported by Oxfam.

Haseeb Khawaja, a an activist and documentary Filmmaker said on the occasion that state’s patriarchy, male dominated political parties, unfair political processes, masculine culture and religious extremism, all affect the courage and ability of women and girls to participate meaningfully in Pakistan’s politics at all levels.