NCSW head election row may land in court

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The nomination by a parliamentary committee of the new chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) is likely to end up in a superior court as the election has been marred by a furious row between the ruling coalition and the opposition parties.

The 12-member bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on the Appointment of the NCSW Chairperson interviewed two contenders, Fauzia Waqar and Nilofer Bakhtiar, a participant said. During the voting in the parliamentary panel, Fauzia Waqar was elected through a show of hands by six votes against five.

As the opposition’s choice won, committee chairperson Falak Naz, belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), voted in favour of Nilofer Bakhtiar. PML-N representative Mrs Nuzhat Sadiq told The News when contacted. She said instead of announcing Fauzia Waqar’s clear victory, Falak Naz left the committee room.

PTI MNA Asma Hadeed, when asked to comment why the committee didn't send Fauzia Viqar's name to the PM for appointment, she said "I don't think so" (that Fauzia Viqar got more votes), adding: "We were tricked".

PML-N MNA Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha said: “What can one expect from the government if consultations even in such well-attended committees cannot bear fruit.” Senator Naz had not responded by the time this pending report was eventually filed. Fauzia Viqar was not available for comment.

Another committee member, Dr Nafisa Shah of the PPP, said the opposition representatives objected to Falak Naz’s vote for Nilofer Bakhtiar on the grounds that the chairperson can use her casting vote only in case of a tie. In this case, there was no tie because Fauzia Waqar had been elected by a clear majority. Shah urged the speaker to intervene in the matter.

The opposition members had insisted that Fauzia Waqar’s victory should be formally and officially announced, but the committee chairperson refused. Even if the chairperson’s vote is counted, the two sides secured an equal number of ballots. However, committee rules are silent on a situation where a tie occurs on any such matter.

The opposition members said that the proceedings of the parliamentary committee were recorded so these and the minutes of the meeting would prove their standpoint correct. If Fauzia Waqar is not notified as the duly elected NCSW chairperson, the opposition members are preparing to challenge the matter in a court of law. On the other hand, the ruling alliance wants a re-election for the post, rejecting the earlier process.

The rules for the NCSW committee say the panel after considering the nominations for an actual or anticipated vacancy of the chairperson may hear and confirm any nominee by a majority of the members present via voting within 14 days of its receipt. The committee chairperson will forward the name of the nominee confirmed by the forum to the prime minister for appointment within 14 days.

The post of the NCSW chairperson has been lying vacant since November 2019. The Supreme Court has also taken notice of the delay. The members of the committee are Dr Nafisa Shah, Tahira Aurangzeb, Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Nuzhat Sadiq, Shaheen Naz Saifullah, Nuzhat Pathan, Asma Qadeer, Farukh Khan, Abida Muhammad Azeem and Sana Jamali.

Women’s Action Forum (WAF) has strongly urged the Government to immediately announce the selection of Fauzia Viqar as Chair of NCSW, as she received more votes from the bipartisan Parliamentary Committee. WAF has urged all members of the Parliamentary Committee to press for an immediate announcement of the name of the new Chair of NCSW. “They owe this to the women of Pakistan.”

A statement issued by WAF says, “WAF is shocked to hear that Senator Falak Naz, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for the Selection of Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) ‘fled’ the Committee without announcing the name of the successful candidate, Fauzia Viqar who reportedly received more votes than Nilofer Bakhtiar. The Chair’s action is deplorable, and she must be held accountable by the Parliamentary Committee.”