A file photo of a female voter taking part in by-elections in Rawalpindi. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE:
On February 18, 2008, 31 polling stations in Punjab swarmed with only male voters. Not a single woman from 17 National Assembly constituencies of Punjab cast her vote in the elections of 2008 — a situation which experts agree should not be witnessed in 2013.
Political analysts and civil society activists believe that undoing a mindset is necessary to ensure women’s participation in the electoral process. “There are some social and cultural constraints, administrative issues and lack of interest in political process which hinder women from exercising the right to cast vote. It is up to the political parties, civil society organisations and Election Commission of Pakistan to educate women about the importance of casting vote,” said political analyst and rights activist Salman Abid, while talking to The Express Tribune.
The activist recommended that in order to avoid a fate similar to 2008, the election commission should make it mandatory upon each polling station to sport at least 10 percent female voters in polling records in order for results to be accepted.
Analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi seemed to agree. “Sadly, the law doesn’t say that voting results of a polling station could be declared null and void if female voters don’t show up. Our political parties don’t even give tickets to women to contest on general seats in such situation -- so how can we expect a satisfactory turnout of female voters?”
However, Taj Haider, a resident of NA-128 Lahore said that apart from a lack of awareness, lack of proximity to a polling station also discouraged many women from casting votes. “The polling station was located at a far-off village. But I am sure more women will head to a far-off polling station this year because of increased awareness about the importance of voting.”
Rizvi was also optimistic that this time round, the electoral process will witness increased participation by women.
National Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz said that the election commission will be approached this week to discuss a strategy regarding increased female participation in elections. “All political parties including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam say there is nothing wrong in women casting their vote. When they agree on this, it is also the responsibility of political parties to make sure the women come out to cast the vote,” she maintained.
Data obtained by The Express Tribune shows in NA-57 Attock I there were seven such polling stations where women voters turnout was zero while the number of registered women voters in these polling stations was 5,464. In NA-64 Sargodha I and NA-65 Sargodha II, there were seven polling stations where 7,768 registered women voters were present but the turnout remained zero. At polling station number 6 in NA-88 Jhang III women’s turnout remained zero while 772 women voters were registered there. In NA-71 Mianwali I there were three polling stations where a total of 1,852 women voters were registered, but the turnout remained zero. In NA-61 Chakwal II, polling station number 323, a total of 394 women voters were registered but none cast their vote. In NA-76 Faisalabad II, NA-78 Faisalabad IV, NA-80 Faisalabad VI and NA-81 Faisalabad VII there were five polling stations that had 3,935 registered female voters but the turnout remained zero. In NA-128 Lahore-XI at polling station number 209, there were 882 registered women voters but none cast their vote. In NA-171 DG Khan-I there were 718 registered women voters at polling station number 267 but the turnout remained zero. In NA-160 Sahiwal I, NA-161 Sahiwal II, NA-163 Sahiwal IV, there were three polling stations with 1,755 registered women voters but the turnout remained zero. In NA-105 Gujrat II there were 1,482 registered women voters at polling station number 226 but none cast their vote. In NA-117 Narowal III there were 920 registered women voters at polling station number 90 but the turnout remained zero.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2013.
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Sir: Your headline should read "17 Punjab electoral areas (polling stations) saw no woman voter". It is not correct that 17 whole constituencies saw no woman voter. There are 564 electoral areas nationwide in which women's voter turnout was 0% in General Election 2008. The problem is not women's lack of awareness or the need to "educate women about the importance of casting vote." Rather, the problem is most often men's objections to women's voting, including agreements among political parties and local leadership. Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) is working in the 564 electoral areas nationwide to mobilize the support of local male community leaders in favor of female voting in General Elections 2013. FAFEN has advocated since 2008 that election results should be void in any constituency in which women's voter turnout is 0% in any polling station in the constituency. See http://www.fafen.org/site/v6/publications/election-observation/electoral-reforms
The day men will realize that how important votes of women are, it can bring significant change in the society.
Women are not pets who should be confined upto cages only.