Daily Times

Democracies are expected to base their governance on representation from across their populations, considering not only the majority but also the concerns of marginalised groups and minorities. Though Pakistan’s constitution guarantees dignity, freedom and equality to all citizens, women have remained marginalized among others in political participation, evidenced by their low percentage in holding public offices.

Women’s exclusion in the formal arena of politics is a historic and global phenomenon. Pakistan has ratified several international conventions, covenants and commitments to gender equality. In Pakistan, there is no constitutional bar on the political participation of women as voters or as candidates. However, women’s representation in the national legislature has never moved beyond ten percent until 2001, when the gender quota was restored by the military regime at the local, provincial and national level. Through a legislative provision 33 percent of seats were reserved for women in the local government and 17 percent in the national and provincial assemblies and senate.

Despite the fact that Pakistan has elected a woman twice as the Prime Minister, gender equality in the political arena is still a distant dream for a vast majority of women, who are not even allowed to cast their votes in certain parts of the country

Despite the fact that Pakistan has elected a woman twice as the Prime Minister, gender equality in the political arena is still a distant dream for a vast majority of women, who are not even allowed to cast their votes in certain parts of the country. Pakistanwas ranked 55 out of 86 in 2012, on the Social Institutions and Gender Index. In 2011, the Human Development Index score for the country was 0.504, placing it 145 out of 187 countries. The Gender Inequality Index score was 0.373 and Global Gender Gap Index rating for 2011 0.5583, ranking it 133 out of a total of 135 countries.However, Pakistan is performing relatively well on the women’s political empowerment indicator because of the gender quota in legislatures. It is ranked 52 on the political empowerment indicator in the Global Gender Gap Index. Women’s exclusion in the formal political processes is the result of multiple structural, institutional and functional obstacles that are present in the country.

However, we must applause the legislative period of 2008-2013, where the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government assigned women key parliamentarians positions. Fahmida Mirza was elected as the first speaker of the National Assembly and Hina Rabbani Khar was appointed as the first female Foreign Minister. Furthermore in 2018, PPP nominated Sherry Rehman as speaker in the Senate again. Having said that, the most significant step taken by the PPP-led National Assembly (2008-2013) was the formation of the Women Parliamentarian Caucus, through which women, across parties, formed a cross party alliance to pursue a pro-women’s agenda. This led to women’s issues having larger platform; which led to the passing of many pro-women laws.

Candidate statistics from the 2018 General Elections reveal that 105 women across the country were awarded party tickets, while 66 contested as independent candidates. This is an increase from 2013, where 74 women contested from party seats and 61 contested as independent candidates. In the 2008 elections, the number of women candidates was as low 41 party ticket holders, while only 31 were independent. While these figures are heartening, there is still a long way before we can be satisfied with female participation in the political arena.

Today, all political parties are dominated by elite males, and this, together with dynastic control over leadership positions has discouraged democratic practices within the mainstream political parties. Moreover it has contributed to blocking women’s entry in politics. Eight outstanding women politicians; Nafisa Shah,Zubaida jalal,Zartaj Guland Fehmida Mirza among others stood up against this male dominated politics and contested the 2018 direct elections and won with large margin votes. We as a nation should congratulate them and support such females in the future as well. These women are politically marginalized and represent economically underprivileged groups seeking to make their voices heard in the mainstream political system to draw attention to those issues being neglected by male politicians, such as education, healthcare, and women’s rights.

Women are considered as a passive vote bank and political parties tend to use them mostly for representative functions at public gatherings, meetings, and campaigns. This is another significant indication for the de-facto lack of women’s empowerment in political parties

However, at the same time, those women who have entered politics on reserved quotas come from influential political families. These women who are entering politics via reserved seats are not from the same or similar socio-economic and political background as the majority of Pakistani women, a limitation to the true representation of women that needs to be taken seriously. Therefore, one has to conclude that quotas for women will not achieve the desired results. But again here I want to appreciate PPP and Bilawal Bhutto for nominating Tanzeela Qambrani, first Sindhi Sheedi woman, from an under privileged community to be the part of the provincial legislature.

It is also imperative to notice that the number of women in decision-making positions in political parties has also reduced. Women are considered as a passive vote bank and political parties tend to use them mostly for representative functions at public gatherings, meetings, and campaigns. This is another significant indication for the de-facto lack of women’s empowerment in political parties.

Hereby, I want to request the political parties of Pakistan to unite on the issue of female empowerment. This issue should not only be highlighted in party manifestos during electoral campaigns- but a part of all national and provincial assembly agendas.

Moreover, I want to request the leading political party of Pakistan PakistanTehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) to appoint women within their cabinet, and in leading ministries. We hope that PTI will set Pakistan on the tracks for long lasting female empowerment.

The writer is a social and political activist based in Lahore. He has done his Maters and MPhil in Communication Studies.He can be reached at salmanali088@gmail.com, tweets at Salmani_salu

Published in Daily Times, August 19^th 2018.