News Desk
The Aurat Foundation has taken a firm stance on gender representation in politics, filing a complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against several political parties for allegedly breaching the mandatory requirement of fielding at least 5% women candidates on general seats.
The parties identified in the complaint include Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Notably, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is absent from the list due to being deprived of its symbol.
Aurat Foundation’s complaint is rooted in a comprehensive analysis of eight political parties participating in elections for the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies. The foundation’s findings present a concerning picture of women’s participation in these political processes.In the National Assembly, it is alleged that PPPP, JI, ANP, TLP, JUI-F, and BNP have not adhered to the requirement of allocating at least 5% party tickets to women on general seats. Similar claims are made for Punjab Assembly, involving PML-N, PPPP, JI, MQM, and TLP. In the Sindh Assembly, MQM, ANP, and TLP are accused of not meeting the 5% quota, while in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, PML-N, MQM, JI, and JUI-F face similar allegations. The Balochistan Assembly findings indicate non-compliance by PML-N, MQM, PPP, ANP, TLP, and JUI-F.Section 206 of the Elections Act 2017 explicitly mandates that political parties must allocate at least 5% general seat tickets to women in each assembly. Violation of this provision carries repercussions outlined in Section 217 of the same law. Penalties include the denial of election symbols and the inability to contest elections as a political party.
The complaint, quoting the letter sent to the ECP, emphasizes that political parties are well-aware of this obligation. Parties submit affidavits to the ECP, affirming the allocation of 5% tickets to women. The Aurat Foundation underscores the significance of this requirement, stating that disregarding women’s participation denies half the population their fundamental rights under the Constitution of Pakistan.
In their letter to the ECP, the foundation urgently requests the electoral body to take notice of these alleged violations and enforce strict action under Section 217 and other relevant provisions of the law against the implicated political parties. The foundation seeks to ensure that the 5% representation ceiling is respected, emphasizing its crucial role in fostering gender inclusivity within the political landscape