A report titled “Performance of Women Parliamentarians in 12th National Assembly” was released at a hotel here on Tuesday.
The report by the Aurat Foundation said that the entry of women politicians into the Parliament on the reserved seats in 2002 was an important development in the parliamentary history of Pakistan and they received media attention and expectations from people.
The report added that they knew about fragility of their status but they proved that they were capable of their new role as public representatives.
It said people especially women, civil society, media and other quarters concerned kept them in focus from the first day.
The report stated that the political scene was heavily manipulated before the general elections of 2002 marginalizing the mainstream political parties and their leadership.
The 12th National Assembly remained under the shadow of a military dictator throughout its five years tenure and the passage of 17th Amendment by it further consolidated President General Musharraf’s rule. It said the 12th National Assembly had the highest ever proportion of women’s representation (21.3 per cent) with 74 women in the parliament, the report added.
It said there have been altogether 3,698 interventions by 58 women legislators during five years, adding that the number of their interventions, if calculated on a per day average on the basis of actual days in each parliamentary year shows that women parliamentarians have on an average made 10 interventions per day.
According to the report, the highest numbers of questions were asked by Yasmeen Rehman followed by Beelum Hasnain, Fauzia Wahab, Ms Samia Raheel Qazi, Inyat Begum, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Ms Shakila Khanam Rashid and Ms Mehnaz Rafi.
Ms Mehnaz Rafi took maximum part in parliamentary debates followed by Ms Samia Raheel Qazi, Ms Naheed Khan, Ms Fauzia Wahab, Ms Yasmeen Rehman, Ms Sherry Rehman, Ms
Bilqees Saif and Ms Kaniz Aisha Munawar (14 times). Ms Naheed Khan made the highest number of interventions through points of order (36 times) followed by Ms Mehnaz Rafi, Ms Sherry Rehman, Ms Samia Raheel Qazi and Ms Kashmala Tariq.
The highest numbers of calling attention notices were put up by Ms Mehnaz Rafi, followed by Ms Kashmala Tariq, Ms Sherry Rehman and Ms Samia Raheel Qazi putting up six notices each and Ms Fauzia Wahab put four calling attention notices.
Ms Mehnaz brought the highest number of resolutions in five years, followed by Ms Rozian Tufail (two), Ms Kashmala Tariq, Ms Asiya Azeem, Ms Aisha Munawar, Ms Nilofar Bakhtiar, Ms Yasmeen Rehman and Ms Beelam Husnain (one each).
Ms Sherry Rehman, Ms Samia Raheel Qazi and Ms Kashmala Tariq moved the highest number of private members bills (11 each) followed by Ms Mehnaz Rafi and Ms Beelum Hasnian who moved eight bills each, Ms Samina Khalid Ghurki moved six bills, while Dr Farida Ahmed, Ms Yasmeen Rehman, Ms Farhana Khalid Banoori and Ms Rubina Saadat Qaimkhwani moved five bills each.
