Kashmala Tariq, former MP http://www.socialjutt.com

Pakistan makes global headlines for a lot of negative reasons – namely, stories about suicide bombings, honor killings, poverty, disease, drone strikes and other horrors. However, the South Asian nuclear giant is actually witnessing some very gradual progress on some uplifting fronts – for instance, the slow advancement of women into its political spheres.

In the recent general elections, scores of females ran for political office and some even landed seats, in both provincial and national assemblies. According to the state’s Election Commission, the number of women contesting for general seats surged by 130 percent since the 2008 election.

The presence of women in Pakistani politics is guaranteed in the constitution by a quota system that “reserves” certain seats for females. Over the years, this system has expanded largely due to the efforts of women activists. At present, 60 out of 342 seats in the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) are reserved for women.

In Pakistan’s Senate (the upper house of parliament), where senators are chosen through indirect elections, there are currently 17 women lawmakers, all of whom are occupying reserved seats.


Source: International Business Times
By Palash Ghosh