Ringing alarm bells: Nazims, naib nazims prove it’s a man’s world

Not a single woman takes a berth across the province

PESHAWAR:

With the nazim elections for local governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa wrapped up, it is time we address the elephant in the room. Across the province’s 23 districts that witnessed LG setups take shape on Sunday, not a single woman could make it to the district and tehsil nazim and naib nazim berths.

Across Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s 10 district nazims, Jamaat-e-Islami’s four, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s three and Awami National Party and Pakistan Peoples Party’s two nazims each, not a single woman managed to break through the glass ceiling which poses questions over the intentions of those in charge. Despite bossing reserved seats, women could still not make the cut.

PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai said, “Our women follow a mindset that in this male dominant society, we are not good enough to take power positions.” She condemned the situation and assured that PTI will set things right soon. “For the first time ever, our party has provided an opportunity to women and the youth. We will continue working towards bringing them into the mainstream.”



Like all politicos all year round, ANP leader Haroon Bilour also agrees with Ayesha’s contention. “ANP gave 33% of the seats to women. We have had women ministers in the past. Why does the PTI refrain from giving them their basic rights?”

Rights activist Shad Begum said women considered as not good enough for such responsibilities is a cultural taboo. “Those who believe in equality need not hide behind excuses.”

She said political activity in the country bears testament to the fact that women are as good as men no matter what the challenge may be. “We should focus on smaller communities since they have the power to influence the whole,” she added.

Brothers in arms

While its slogans and manifestos may contradict, PTI acted no different when it came to the distribution of nazim berths. In the city alone, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s relative Muhammad Asim Khan was chosen over strong candidate Muhammad Younas Zaheer for the district nazim slot. In Peshawar’s Town-II, MPA Mehmood Jan’s cousin Faridullah was elected as town nazim.

The situation in Nowshera was no different. Pervez’s brother Liaquat Khattak was made district nazim. Down south in Tank, MPA Dawar Khan Kundi’s brother Mustafa Kundi was chosen for the berth. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi’s brother was made Lachi tehsil nazim in Kohat.

Meanwhile in Karak, PTI MPA Gul Sahib Khan Khattak’s brother Dr Umar Daraz Khattak was made district nazim. The method trickled down to DI Khan too where MPA Ali Amin Gandapur’s brother Umar Amin Gandapur was made Dera tehsil nazim while Paharpur tehsil nazim Jehanzaib is an uncle of MPA Javed Ehtisham. DI Khan nazim Azizullah Alizai is also the brother of MPA Samiullah Alizai.

In Haripur, MPA Yousaf Ayub’s blue-eyed boys Tariq Khan and Ihsan Shah were made tehsil nazim and naib nazim. In Charsadda, MPA Fazal Mehmood’s relative Fahad Khan was given the district nazim office.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Special Assistant to CM Arif Yousaf said a parliamentary committee made the choices independently. “Imran Khan is against nepotism. However, new people should have been given a chance; something that even I feel didn’t happen.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2015.