MQM-P leader laments low representation of women in parliamentary institutions

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Kishwar Zehra on Saturday lamented the low representation of women in the government and parliamentary institutions of the country when the population of women is 50 per cent according to the verified figures.

She was speaking to an event organised by the MQM-P in District Central in connection with International Women's Day that is observed on March 8 across the world.

Kishwar said that although the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) obligated the political parties to give five per cent of their election tickets to women, there was no such rule that made it mandatory for the political parties to field women in the constituencies that were considered their electoral strongholds.

She remarked that all the parties

had fielded women in those constituencies that were out of the reach of the party.

“Even if women win from somewhere, it is only due to hereditary politics under the feudal system,” she said, adding that the MQM-P was a party that had given representation to ordinary women from its strong constituencies on general seats, including Bilqees Mukhtar from North Nazimabad, Rehana Nasreen from Federal B Area and Khushbakht Shujaat from Defence.

She said that in the 2024 general elections, the MQM-P introduced a new face Aasia Ishque and made her successful from the party’s stronghold in Shah Faisal Colony.

Kishwar demanded that the ECP make it mandatory for political parties to reserve their strong constituencies for women to increase women's representation in Parliament.