Women participants conspicuous by their absence

Saira Afzal Tarar says no instructions from the party to stop women from joining the rally

ISLAMABAD: The custom-built, bombproof and air-conditioned container is draped in Pakistan's flag of green and white and there are pictures of Nawaz Sharif and his heir apparent, Maryam Nawaz, visible on its front side.

The design of the container perfectly illustrates the gender equality at least symbolically. But on the ground, the situation is different. There is no female participant in the rally and even female ministers are not to be spotted in the caravan that started its journey on Wednesday amid much fanfare.

According to sources, Maryam Nawaz was also forced to leave Islamabad for Lahore a day before the rally due to security concerns. Commenting on this, a PML-N woman activist told The Express Tribune that it is not their party’s policy to ‘use women’ to attract people to come to their rallies.



“It is embarrassing to see how other political parties let women in full make-up dance in their public rallies just to attract men. These political parties use women as a showpiece and recently several cases of sexual harassment have been reported in public rallies organised by the PTI,” she said.

MNA Saira Afzal Tarar said there were no such instructions from the party leadership to stop women from joining the rally. “Women party workers and supporters are expected to come to welcome their leader in their respective cities but they are not likely to join the caravan,” she said.



She said personally she believed that it looked awkward to see women supporters get on the trucks and dance to the music publically.

Tarar further said she would be leading a rally from Hafizabad and all preparations had been made to welcome her party leader.

Talking to a private TV channel, MNA Maiza Hameed, however, claimed that women were participating in the rally in large numbers and no case of sexual harassment was reported.

The Express Tribune tried to contact Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb but she was not available for a comment. However, majority of the female ministers and party activities remained active on social media to welcome their party leaders and wish them all the best.