Women in politics

Women in Politics

Being a woman myself, this blog post is very close to my heart. I belong to the lot of auspicious urban women who can put into effect their voting rights; yet there are ample of areas in Pakistan where women are either dejected or out-rightly debarred by the local communities from voting. For a while now I've found myself argumentative about women’s lack of involvement in the voting progression but most of my utter has been with close friends and family. Still, I believe it’s about time that I stop lecturing to the before now rehabilitated and chat with each person and anybody who’s concerned in listening!

The General Elections in 2013 however showed some improvement as there was high percentage of women contribution. This is an awesome improvement and it is worth to courage those women, who casted their vote despite having the fear of terrorism and the barriers in certain remote areas. Looking at political perspective, where more than 450 women were contesting for the seats of National Assembly alone.

Nevertheless, regardless of these developments there are some more requirements to be done before all Pakistani women can work out their legal right of voting. Paradoxically, even today many political parties plunge to the desires of activist and conservative forces when it comes to women’s political involvement. We saw an evident case of this in 2013 when the candidates of nearly all the major political parties of Pakistan signed pacts in the tribal regions excluding women voters from casting votes or taking any action in the political process!

This kind of deeds by political leaders is profoundly given the verity that under the decentralization of power plan in 2000, the government standoffish 33% seats at all levels i.e. National, Provincial and Local Government for women.

When given liberty and autonomy to proceed, Pakistani women have for eternity been a foundation of constructive role in the political showground. Women parliamentarians have played an essential role in forming women-led conferences and tabling means governmental bills.  Additionally, in Pakistan women politicians have held key offices such as ex- Prime Minister (Late) Benazir Bhutto who held the office from 1988 to 1990 and then from 1993 to 1996 being the first PM of any Muslim country. Correspondingly there are a lot of female politicians from all the parties have held key positions. Evenly significant is the fact that the irresistible presence of nearly 40,000 women in local councils since 2000 has contributed enormously towards mainstreaming women into politics.

In the same monarchy we must also recognize the hard work of Malala Yousufzai, young Pakistani activist for female education and youngest female Nobel laureate as well and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Pakistani journalist and filmmaker who became the first Pakistani to win an Oscar. While these young women are not politicians they however reveal the gigantic latent that Pakistani women have and how they surpass and make the whole country proud when given independence to chase their obsession and put their knacks to follow.

I can’t highlight enough that this is the right time to make a genuine endeavor in order to make sure the contribution and liberty of the women in elections. Every modest attempt by you and me can really go a long, long way in making powerful female voters in our country. So next time you want to pamper in some drawing conversation on local politics, are looking for a significant topic to peep on or you’re preparing on sending out a letter to your local newspaper’s editor, make sure that addition of female voters is amid the topics that you discuss. A modest endeavor from all of us is essential for bringing a big shift in women’s political role in Pakistan.