Is there going to be a re-election in Dir or not? While the Election Commission and the superior courts decide between themselves the fate of this election, this is what women’s participation in the political process boils down to. Women have been stopped from voting or asked to vote as per the wishes of the male members of the family or village in constituencies all across the country.
Some might consider it ironic to talk about women’s participation when politics per se is twisted and the political class itself is considered powerless.
If women are breaking the proverbial glass ceilings in all other spheres, it is unlikely they will be kept away from mainstream politics. That, unfortunately, remains patriarchal and male-dominated. But that is how it has been all over. And yet countries have taken affirmative action to bring more and more women into the political sphere and within a few decades political scenarios have changed.
Pakistan has taken a slow start. The real irony is that the most impressive quotas have been put in place in the time of a military dictator.
To expect more women representation in the parliaments while the parties stay male dominated is like putting the cart before the horse. We have tried to look at the unworthy state of political parties that are dominated by women wings. It is marvellous how, with this apathetic state of our political parties, women perform so exceptionally well inside the assemblies. They have been instrumental not just in bringing in pro-women legislation but have been most vocal and effective in all kinds of progressive legislation. They have asked the right questions and most of them. Their performance has been qualitatively much better than their male counterparts. Yet, we are far from our desired goals.
Today’s Special Report is an attempt at understanding what holds women back when it comes to participation in politics and what can be done to reach that aspired goal of equality and progress.