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Although Pakistani women entered politics a long time ago, they still face many obstacles in entering this field in some areas, especially in the tribal areas or what is known as the “federally administered areas in Pakistan,” where border conflicts are frequent and the spread of Extremist armed groups and conservative ideology, such as the Pakistani Taliban.
Although women do not obtain their right to elect and vote in some of these areas, in other areas and during recent years, some areas have presented examples of women who ran for the Pakistani elections, whether for women’s seats or for general seats, and this constituted an incentive for other women to run for elections later. This is considered a major change in these regions, and the upcoming Pakistani elections, scheduled for Thursday, February 8th, will witness examples of women running for the first time in their regions.
Saweera Prakash of the Hindu religion says that she spent her entire life in Bener without facing any discrimination (Al Jazeera)
Hindu candidate
Dr. Saweera Prakash is considered the first woman to run in the general elections for general seats, on behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party, in the Banir district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, where she competes for a general seat in the regional council, but she is also considered a minority, as she professes the religion Hinduism, in addition to being young, is what is happening for the first time, at least in that region.
Dr. Prakash has belonged to the Pakistan People's Party since her childhood, following in the footsteps of her father, who is considered one of the political and social activists in that region. She completed her studies in general medicine in 2022.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Prakash said that when she learned that she was the first minority woman to run for herself, she was shocked, and said that she did not realize that no minority women had competed before. She added that although there are movements that prevent women from casting their votes, and the difficulty of competing in Elections, from day one there has been an overwhelming positive response, with everyone in her community supporting her.
Prakash also confirmed that she never felt like she was a minority, and that she spent her entire life in Bener without facing any discrimination on the basis of religion. She said that one of her most important goals from the first moment she decided to run in the general elections was to empower women and empower youth, and stressed her focus on developing her region. Through infrastructure development.
Shakira Shinwari hopes her involvement in politics has inspired other women to consider it (Pakistani Press)
From a tribal area
In the Khyber region, which administratively joined the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Shakira Shinwari is competing for a general seat, for the Pakistan Parliamentarians’ Insaf Party, a party that was founded in June 2023 after splitting from the main Insaf Party. Shakira Shinwari is considered the first to run for public seats in Her area, which is considered a conservative tribal area, faces some obstacles.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Shinwari says that it is traditionally unacceptable to the idea of women’s participation in her society. However, Shinwari hopes that her participation in politics has inspired other women to consider the matter, and she adds that the main challenge that her community faces is “a lack of awareness, which affects... On both men and women,” she stressed that her goal is “to enhance awareness, especially among women, and encourage them to appear and contribute, while recognizing that they form the foundation of the family.”
Regarding the idea of participating in the electoral race in a region such as the tribal region in Pakistan, Shinwari tells Al Jazeera Net, “Participating in campaign activities represents a challenge because of our tribal culture, which imposes restrictions on women’s participation in such endeavors.” She said that she faces many difficulties in this conservative society, and that it is not only a personal challenge for her, but also a broader struggle for women in her society.
Benazir Bhutto, the most famous Pakistani politician, served as prime minister for two terms at the end of the last century (Reuters)
Women's leadership
Activist and political researcher Asima Wadud says, “Pakistan provided the first female prime minister to the Islamic world, and now Maryam Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League is running for an important position in the next government.”
Regarding the possibility of any change in Pakistani society with the start of a number of women running in the elections, Wadud told Al Jazeera Net that “democracy has developed in Pakistan, and has now reached the point at which it can determine its correct direction,” and she added, “We are far behind perfection. But the journey to a stable democracy has begun."
At the same time, Wadud pointed out the "political abuse" to which women participating in politics are exposed, due to their or their family's political vision over the past two years, specifically after the overthrow of the Insaf Party government, and she said that "it is unfortunate that women are subjected to political abuse randomly."
Today, there are only 6 political parties led by women in Pakistan, out of 166 registered parties in the country, which are:
The Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto), headed by Ghinwa Bhutto, who is the wife of Murtaza Bhutto (son of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto), who disputed the leadership of the party with his sister Benazir Bhutto.
Back Defense National Movement, headed by Sabeen Malik.
All Pakistan United League, headed by Tehmina Amjad.
Pakistan Seraiki Party, led by Dr. Nekhbakh Taj Langa.
The Islamic League, headed by Fatima Lubna Hassan.
Pakistani Awami Forces Party, led by Salha Khaqan.
The most clear example of a Pakistani woman leading a political party is Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of the founder of the Pakistan People's Party and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who followed in her father's footsteps in the political arena, and led the People's Party again as soon as democratic life returned, after the death of General Zia-ul-Haq. Her father was executed after the coup against him, and she became prime minister for two terms, the first in the period between 1988-1990 and the second in the period between 1993-1996.
Source: Al Jazeera