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Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ For Pakistan’s general elections on February 8, candidates from diverse backgrounds, irrespective of gender, religion, or political affiliation, intensified their efforts to make a mark on the electoral landscape. Among the myriad of contenders vying for seats in this election, a select few are garnering attention for challenging traditional gender roles. Additionally, women’s representation in Pakistan’s electoral process remains very low, with statistics revealing that out of the 17,000 candidates in the February 8 polls, merely 839 are women, constituting a meager 4.7 percent. Let’s delve into the stories of three remarkable female candidates and their aspirations for these elections.
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The Pioneer Hindu Woman
This election holds historical significance as Dr. Saveera Prakash, affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), contests from Buner’s PK-25 constituency, scripting history as the first Hindu woman in Pakistan to vie for election. At 25 years old and a recent medical graduate, Prakash bravely asserts her religious identity, supported by her Sikh father and Christian mother in a predominantly Muslim nation. According to her, “No religion in the world teaches a person to do bad deeds; every religion guides a person to do good deeds”.
Her political aspirations aim to tackle gender and religious biases prevalent in society. She articulated, “I have always felt that girls experienced gaps in public life in Pakistan. Only 29 percent of women in Buner are educated, whereas the country’s [average] literacy rate for women is 46 percent. Women feel constrained in Pashtun culture due to social norms, so I decided to contest [to dispel this impression]”. What sets Dr. Prakash apart is her decision to contest for a general seat instead of a reserved one, motivated by a desire to enhance the visibility of her community.
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The Widow Turned Politician
Samar Haroon Bilour is a familiar name in Pakistani politics, thrust into the electoral arena under tragic circumstances following her husband’s assassination by militants prior to the last election. The attack on her husband, Haroon, claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, propelled Samar into her husband’s campaign. Reflecting on the ordeal, she shared, “I stepped into his shoes after his murder – it was one of the hardest things I had ever done, I was mentally not prepared”.
Despite facing adversity, Samar emerged victorious, becoming the first female provincial MP in Peshawar, a city characterized by conservative customs that restrict women’s public involvement. Samar recounts facing opposition during her bid to continue her husband’s legacy but persevered, believing that attitudes toward women in politics are evolving. She asserted, “People want someone who gives time to the constituency regardless of what their gender is.”
The YouTube Influencer
In Lahore’s NA-122 constituency, amidst a gripping contest between prominent candidates, attention is drawn to YouTuber Zeba Waqar, a gynecologist and member of Jamaat-e-Islami. With a substantial YouTube following, Waqar disseminates regular lectures on the Holy Quran and Hadith, along with responding to inquiries on Islamic teachings, thereby aiming to reach a broader audience beyond traditional media channels. During a media interview, she emphasized the importance of leveraging social media to expand her reach due to limited electronic media coverage, highlighting her channel’s establishment as a joint decision with her husband. Beyond her digital footprint, Waqar runs an institute providing Quranic studies to young women, including graduates from popular universities. Further, Waqar’s political aspirations aim to address economic disparities faced by women, improve professional training opportunities, and support stronger anti-harassment legislation if elected.
Further, reports indicate that former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has allocated 53 seats to women, the highest among major political parties. Of these, 28 are contested for National Assembly constituencies and 25 for provincial seats. However, rival parties have fallen short in gender representation, with less than five percent of tickets allocated to women. For example, the Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has fielded 35 women candidates, accounting for just 4.5 percent of its total candidates. Similarly, Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has issued tickets to 28 women, constituting 4.2 percent of its candidate pool.
