Disappointing ratio for female contestants

Islamabad
Among total 255 contestants for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson seats in the Local Government Elections of Islamabad, only five were women with two each from Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and Awami Workers Party and one from Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan.
The statistics shared by Aurat Foundation say that total 351 women contested for 100 women councillor seats in the elections. Out of total 2,460 candidates contested for local body elections, total 356 women contested on Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Women Councillor seats which makes around 15 per cent of the total candidates.
The gender experts from Islamabad termed this ratio disappointing for women political participation in the capital city. “We were expecting much more women candidates contesting for decision making seats in these elections considering the fact that the city houses most educated and elite class of the country,” said Director Advocacy for Aurat Foundation Rabeea Hadi.
“Five among total 255 contestants for chairperson and vice chairperson means only 2 per cent women contested on decision making seats. This low number reflects the approach of political parties towards women political participation especially of main stream political parties,” she said. Interestingly, out of 506 candidates of ruling part PML-N, no women contested election on seats of Chairperson or Vice Chairperson.
She said that the ratio is disappointing. “If there were no reserve seats for women councillors, the ratio of total number would have been much lower than this,” she said.
Total 550 candidates would be elected through these elections to form local bodies. In each Union Council, elections were held for 11 general seats including one Chairperson, one Vice Chairperson, one Youth Councillor, one Women Councillor, one Labour Councillor, one Minority Councillor and five General Councillors. In addition, there will be two reserved seats in every Union Council.