Sisters are doing it for themselves

Two young women are contesting the elections not just against the feudal lords but against the mindset too

KARACHI: Pakistan's is for all purposes a patriarchal society. It is a system where women are only allowed minimal input in the decision-making process. There are deviations, off course. We did elect the first woman head of state among Muslim countries. On the whole, however, the situation is still quite grim.

Two young girls, Samreen Khan Zaur and Sindhu Halepoto, want to change this status quo. They are contesting the local government elections, urging the locals to snap out of the feudal mindset and vote for someone who will actually represent them in the system. The two 'agents of change' are affiliated with the Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) and are challenging the candidates nominated by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and Syed Ali Bux alias Pappu Shah, who has recently joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The latter two are the most powerful players in the area.  Zaur and Halepoto will be contesting for seats in Union Council Pahar Marri of taluka Tando Bago in district Badin. Zaur expects to be the chairman and Halepoto, the vice chairman of the UC.



The 24-year-old, Zaur, has recently completed a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Sindh. Halepoto, 25, is a Bachelors of Arts.

The young girls, with a fair political background by virtue of their fathers' role in politics, hail from lower middle income group families. The area where they are contesting the elections is considered a hub of political activity in lower Sindh. Moreover, its residents are relatively conservative, where the woman's role is largely limited to the household.

"We are not only contesting the elections against the feudal lords, but also against the general mindset," explained Zaur. "They [men] believe we can't deliver and have no place in politics."

Speaking to The Express Tribune as she conducted her door-to-door campaign, Zaur said that the people of her area were very confused as to who they should vote for. "They are unhappy with the old faces [PPP]." Women, she added, appeared to be excited for them when they went to their homes to ask for support.

Halepoto, like Zaur, is the first female from her family to contest the LG elections. "People need political awareness," she said. "They are surprised when we visit them and ask for their support." The girls have also surprised the veteran politicians in the area with their resolve. "They [the opponents] use money to buy votes but we are working hard to convince the people to change this status quo," explained Halepoto.

Pahar Marri is located around three kilometers from Tando Bago city. With 11,288 votes, this UC comprises approximately 40 major villages inhabited by members of various clans, including Khawaja, Sheedi, Memon and Mallah.

Dr Mirza was elected member of the Sindh Assembly from Tando Bago's constituency and his son, Barrister Hasnain Mirza won the by-polls against Shah later. Mirza's candidates are being supported by different political groups and parties. The supporters of these female candidates have put up billboards and banners across the UC, asking people to vote for the whistle on November 19.

"We are trend-setters," said Ayaz Latif Palijo, president of the QAT. "These young girls will encourage other women to come out and actively participate in political activities."



"These women are agents of change," reflected a resident and PhD scholar Azadar Hussain Khawaja. "Unfortunately, political parties don't involve women in the political process," he lamented.

For Khawaja, most people who contest the elections from the area aren't even politically sound. They either have criminal records or are financially sound. "Deployment of armed forces confirms what kind of people are involved in the election process," he said, justifying his claim. "It doesn't matter if they [girls] win or lose. They are setting an example for our women."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2015.