By-polls: Inquiry into barring of women from casting vote sought

NCSW says Pakistan women are already deprived of their basic democratic, political and economic rights.

ISLAMABAD:

The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Monday condemned the incident in which women voters were not allowed to cast vote in Mardan and Mianwali, at a number of polling stations during the by-elections held on Saturday.

It came at a time when the Goodwill Ambassador on Women Empowerment Fiza Gilani said the elections of polling stations would be declared null and void if women are not allowed to exercise their rights of voting.

Meanwhile, NCSW in a statement, said that Pakistan women are already deprived of their basic democratic, political and economic rights. Hence, the move made by two political parties to stop women from exercising their right to vote will further exacerbate the diminishing socio-economic conditions of women. It also negates the Article 34 of the Pakistan Constitution that says ‘steps shall be taken to ensure full participation of women in all spheres of national life’.

The Women’s Commission has been reminding the Election Commission of Pakistan to bring in institutional structures and policies binding those political parties; which indulge in such lawless agreements and practices, the statement added.

Exclusion of women from decision-making bodies and depriving them opportunities to voice their concerns will further widen the existing gender disparities. It is critical that women are allowed to claim their share of power to make decisions that directly affect their lives.

The NCSW demanded that the provincial government hold an inquiry into the incident of disallowing women from voting and urged the Election Commission to take notice, declare such results null and void which do not constitute the voice of half of the population.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2012.