NA panel unanimously adopts bill allocating more seats for women

Bill proposes a minimum allocation of 10% general seats for women in NA and a 33% quota of women in general councils

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs unanimously adopted a bill on Sunday to amend the political parties order and proposes a minimum allocation of 10 per cent general seats for women and a 33 per cent quota of women in general councils.

The private members’ bill, introduced by Dr Nafisa Shah and Dr Azra Fazal Pecheco aimed at ensuring meaningful representation for women in the political process.

The committee headed by PML-N MNA Mian Abdul Manan convinced other members that the Pakistan Peoples Party MNA was pursuing the bill rigorously and they should not oppose the idea to enhance women representation in the decision-making process.

“Once the bill gets approval from Parliament, I will introduce further amendments in the bill regarding area wise representation of women,” Shah said while speaking to The Express Tribune.

“The bill seeks to protect and strengthen women’s representation in the political and legislative process,” she added.

“Representation of women in the present Parliament is less than the previous set up,” the PPP MNA said, citing her reason for introducing a bill which could ensure women’s meaningful representation in the democratic set up.

In her bill, Shah proposed that every political party should select a minimum of 10 per cent women candidates for elective officers for general seats.

“Every political party should have a minimum of 33 per cent quota for women in the party’s elected general council and in any associated party committee and form at the federal, provincial and local levels of the party, wherever applicable, and to whatever names these may be referred to,” the bill proposed an amendment in the Article 10 of the Constitution.

Shah said that the performance of the women parliamentarians was satisfactory and they proved themselves active, intelligent and relevant in the process of legislation and other parliamentary debates.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill suggest that the national and international commitments of government of Pakistan, including the Constitution, the National Policy for the Development and Empowerment of Women (NPDEW) 2002, Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) underscore attainment of non-discriminatory and equal opportunities for women in the public and political spheres as inextricably linked to human right, democracy and inclusive sustainable development and human security.