Daily Times

Although political participation of women in Pakistan has increased in the past few years, presence of women in public spaces during political activities remains limited even in the provincial capital of Punjab. A survey conducted by Daily Times in Lahore’s NA 131 constituency, prior to the general elections held on July 25, found that female citizens are less likely to participate in pre-election political activities. Political gatherings and corner meetings leading up to the elections were held in all major areas of the constituency, but the public sphere during the election campaign appears to be dominated by men. In regional offices of the political parties as well, the male to female ratio remained disturbingly low.

In the busy RA Bazaar in Lahore’s Cantonment area, pre-election frenzy could be witnessed during campaign days, with many political parties setting up their offices around the locality. A small medical clinic was turned into an election office for the duration of campaign period. Muhammad Taimoor, who rented the clinic for the purpose of campaigning and mobilising, is a worker of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). “Women are not seen during the political activities here because most of the locals are conservative and don’t like seeing their women attend public events”, he says. The office belongs to a PPP worker, but served as a meet-up place where nearby shopkeepers and residents gathered in the evening to hold discussions on election, issues of their constituency and beyond. But presence of women in such gatherings is almost non-existent.

It was also observed that women who attend corner meetings are usually the coordinators or workers of the parties. This means that these corner meetings and side events are hardly attended by women citizens who are not directly involved in politics.

Even as the election frenzy hit peak, the women in RA Bazar were seen at the tailor shops or shopping for groceries – oblivious to the political hype. Most of these women do not have an opinion on politics and when asked, they said they would make a decision about who to vote for after asking their men. One of them, however, said she supported Imran Khan because he has not been tried before and ‘new people’ should be given a chance to lead the country. She further told that her husband is an office bearer of PML-N Lahore, and has been trying to convince her to vote for PML-N. “I told him clearly that these people have been tested before and they did nothing for our welfare. Now it is time to bring in new faces.”

PTI stood victorious in NA 131 with its candidate Imran Khan leading with 602 votes against PML-N’s Saad Rafique. Recounting of 2835 rejected votes was also held in the constituency, but the result remained unaltered.

On the Election Day as well, most women voters Daily Times spoke to outside at least 5 polling stations, said their decision was based on the preference of their male family members.

A woman named Shagufta who came to cast her vote in one of Walton’s polling stations said she voted for ‘sher’ because her husband and in laws’ family support PML-N.

Another woman – wife of a Rikshaw driver – came to cast her vote at a local school in Cantt, but was barred from entering the polling station because she did not have her original ID card. When asked which party she would have voted for and why, she said she supported PTI because her husband and father-in-law say Imran Khan can lead Pakistan out of crisis.

A teacher outside another polling station of NA 131 said her entire family supports PML-N, which is why she would also vote for the party. Although some young women had reasons to support the party they were voting for, most women from the underprivileged and comparatively less-developed areas of the constituency suggested they voted according to their men’s preferences and affiliations. Some of them apparently did not agree with their male family members’ political choices, but remained submissive.

According to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), the voter turnout across the country on July 25 was 53.3 per cent. Male voter turnout in 241 constituencies was 58.3 per cent whereas the female voter turnout stood at 47 per cent.

Published in Daily Times, July 31^st 2018.