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VOL. 27, NO. 35, May 16, 2008 (Jestha 01 2065 B.S.)
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WOMEN IN PAKISTAN ELECTION
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Strong Showing
Almost forty percent of parliamentarians in Pakistan are women including ministers and the first lady Speaker
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The recent elections in both Nepal and Pakistan have been fruitful for increasing the role of women in politics.
Just as the April 10 elections of Nepal has brought in encouraging numbers of women in the political leadership position, the February 18 elections in Pakistan, too, has opened up fresh avenues in that regard.
Pakistan, which is often portrayed as being a place where women are victimized due to religious extremism, has come up with encouraging number of women politicians.
For the first time not only in its history but also in the history of Islamic world, a lady Speaker has been elected in Pakistan. Dr. Fahmida Mirza, a close aide of late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has been elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly.
In the federal cabinet, Sherry Rahman is regarded as one of the most active ministers. She is the Minister for Information.
“Of the 642 seats in the National Assembly, almost 40 percent are occupied by women,” said Masood Khalid, Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan.
Even in provincial governments, women leadership are emerging. There are four provinces in Pakistan – Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and North West Frontier Province.
In Sindh Province, Shazia Marri is the Minister for Information. A journalist-turned-politician, Marri, who belongs to the party led by Bhutto – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), says that women are making big strides in the country.
According to Khalid Maqbool, governor of Punjab province, particularly the western media have portrayed a stereotyped image of Pakistan regarding the situation of gender discrimination. He said there are now more women than men in universities.
“There is no doubt they have not attained what they deserve. Especially in economy, they are given secondary role,” he said, adding. “And things like honor killings of women in some parts are still there.”
Often there are reports of militants torching girls’ schools, particularly in restive tribal regions.
“But our people have made very comfortable arrangements to bestow the respect and dignity on women. There are many positive aspects, which do not find space in media,” he said.
At a time when even the most developed countries like the United States have not yet had women presidents, South Asian countries including Pakistan have already given women prime ministers.
Analysts in Pakistan hope that the re-emergence of democracy and the encouraging show by women in election would help resolve long-standing social problems in the coming days.
