Women political activists seek 50 percent representation in Parliament, 30 percent in party's CECs

Women political activists and representatives of Civil Society organisations have sought 50 percent women representation in parliament and 30 percent in parties' central executive committee. They pointed out that women registration of National Identity Cards (CNIC) especially in electoral lists are negligible because most of them are deprived of their right to vote.
They expressed these views during a seminar titled "Women Empowerment through Democratic Equality" held under auspices of Philanthropy, a Non-governmental organisation in collaboration with Action Aid Pakistan here on Thursday. The seminar's basic purpose was to share finding and research carried out by Philanthropy in six districts, including Mardan, Swabi, Charssada, Peshawar, Nowshera, and Buner regarding women issues in participation democratic process. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, was chief guest on the occasion.
Notable speakers were Syed Yousaf Shah, Chairman Philanthropy, Robina, and Uzma Mehboob from Khwendo Kor, Noor Zeba, Shakeel Khan, Aurat Foundation, UNDP Provincial Co-ordinator and Abdul Khaliq, Action Aid Pakistan. Women political activists, representatives of civil society organisations and heads of different political parties attended the seminar.
The participants stressed the need for making reforms at grass-roots level, and equal representative in the party major slot. Yousaf Shah on the occasion explained that the research study had carried out six districts of the province. He added that consultative meetings with women political activists of different parties aimed to collect their recommendations and demands regarding their issues confronting during electoral process. He informed that the findings would share with government and parties to amicable address the issues.
Uzma Mehboob, from Kwendo Kor, while sharing finding of the survey in a shape of charter of demands, said that the NADRA should ensure women CNIC registration to maximum participation in electoral process, and called for 50 percent women quota in every constituency. He pointed out that the access to polling station was biggest issue for women, therefore, separate polling facility for women to ensure maximum their participation in the electoral process.
She said that women activists in charter of demands have sought 30 percent women quota in party central executive committee along with fixing ticket quota for taking direct participation in elections. The women activists' issues should be addressed through party manifesto, indicating in the demands.
Ms Uzma said that political activists also demanded for reserving of tribal women seats in the parliament. The election commission, she said, should be made null and void in the areas where women participation banned in electoral process. Sara Bano, on the occasion, highlighted the role of civil society organisation and media's role for redressing issues confronting women in the process of elections.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Minister for Information, while addressing at the seminar, said that government is supporting maximum participation of women in electoral process. He said that the women participation in the parliament shouldn't be based on quota, but need to be equal basis. "We are highly in favour of women participation in electoral process, he maintained.
He said that women are fully independent to use their legal and constitutional right of vote, saying that the government didn't impose any ban in this regard. He added that the ideological political parties have worked out for parties' women activists.
Provincial Minister said that the people are against women's education in tribal areas, saying that militant razed the girls' schools to deprive them of education facility in FATA and other restive areas of the province. He informed that the plan for Madarssa reforms has been finalised, which would be shared with Ulema and religious scholars. He said if ANP get another five years' tenure, they will increase women seat quota in both national and provincial legislative assemblies.