PHOTO: AFP
As the Election Commission of Pakistan in Islamabad took notice of women being disenfranchised in PK-95, Lower Dir-II on Friday and asked candidates and relevant officials to reply on the matter, the province slowly reacted after the fact, demanding action.
Nine political parties signed an agreement over women’s suffrage in Peshawar district, on Friday. The accord was signed during a conference for women’s rights put together by NGOs Blue Veins and Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network at Peshawar Press Club.
An estimated 48,000 women were denied the right to vote during the by-polls held for the seat vacated by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq following his elevation to the Upper House.
While JI edged out Awami National Party in the election, accusatory fingers were pointed towards the former, its coalition partner Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, ANP and other competitors for being in cahoots over barring women from casting ballots. The long-standing debate was further fuelled after a jirga attempted to ban women from voting in Gilgit-Baltistan last Thursday.
According to conference co-organiser Qamar Naseem, all major political parties – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Awami Workers Party, Awami National Party-Wali, National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and even JI – penned their approval. He added PTI and Pakistan Peoples Party also joined in later. “No representatives from ANP and QWP attended,” he maintained. “The declaration reads if any party is found denying women from voting, they will face a lawsuit in Peshawar High Court.”
A history of disenfranchisement
Talking about Lower Dir by-polls, Naseem said the region has a history of low women voter turnout. “Only one woman reportedly voted in Upper Dir during the 2013 general elections,” he said. “Lack of awareness and an inclination towards regressive customs are the reasons behind the issue. Instead of blaming the government, all sections of society should come together for the cause.”
In a letter written to Naseem, human rights activist Tahira Abdullah held the Election Commission of Pakistan and the government responsible for ensuring no one is denied the right to vote. “It is quite clear it was either a jirga decision or a written/unsaid agreement between the opponents in Lower Dir. Either way it is illegal,” she said. “The case should be taken up with the courts urgently.”
Voicing concerns
Although ANP and QWP were not represented at the conference, their leaders did take to Twitter following the by-polls controversy.
QWP MPA Meraj Humayun Khan urged the media to highlight the absence of women in the polling stations while ANP leader Bushra Gohar wrote, “Submitted written application to ECP about barring women from voting in PK-95.”
Talking to The Express Tribune later, Gohar said she did not receive any invitation for the conference and is unaware if her party was invited or not.
Watchdog asks ECP to nullify results
Women’s rights watchdog in K-P, Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) has strongly reacted to the non-participation of women in the by-polls.
At the press club on Friday, PCSW Chairperson Neelam Toru said 47,254 women were denied the right to vote. “The ECP should withhold the [results] until a formal enquiry is made,” she said.
Toru said a meeting was held with ECP representatives three weeks ago and the issue of women voters’ participation was also raised there. “Both JI and ANP have a lot to explain,” she said. “The K-P government should form a fact-finding committee and put to task all those involved,” Toru said. “The ECP should nullify results of any constituency where the women voter turnout is less than 20% of the total,” she said.
Politicos vow to encourage women
Political leaders from various parties in Swabi agreed to encourage women voters to cast ballots during local government polls at a session organised by NGO Thakal on Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ