“In a nation boasting a population of 231 million, the fact that political parties allocate a mere 2 percent representation to women on general seats prompts a crucial inquiry into whether these parties are reluctant to embrace female representation and involve women in decision-making processes,” says Asma Sherazi, a senior journalist from Islamabad.

The year 1988 marked a momentous occasion in Pakistan when Benazir Bhutto became the country’s first female prime minister.

Bhutto’s triumph in the election carried immense significance. It represented a bold stance against stringent policies that sought to confine women to to the home.

In Pakistan, women continue to enter the parliament mostly through reserved seats. These women find their way into the assemblies due to some political affiliation.

Article 34 of the constitution directs the state to take appropriate measures to enable women to participate in all spheres of life and social activities. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2022, Pakistan is ranked 95 out of 153 countries in the ranking of women’s political empowerment. The World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index 2023 also ranks Pakistan 142 out of 146 countries in the world, with an equality rate of 57.5 percent. Bangladesh, in comparison, ranks 59th on this list with 72.2 percent and India 127th with 64.3 percent.

“We have a mindset that women will not receive significant support/ votes in the societal framework based on conservative thinking and that they may not be able to navigate electoral campaigns like male candidates, given the prevalent mindset. In such a scenario, to ensure representation according to global standards concerning the population ratio, women are allocated reserved seats in the parliament,” says Asad Ali Toor, senior political analyst.

In 2017, an amendment to the Election Act mandated that political parties allocate 5 percent of their tickets to women candidates. Now that Pakistan is having another general election, the largest political party in the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has allocated only six tickets to women for the general seats. The second-largest party, Pakistan Peoples Party, has an even more modest representation with only two women on the general seats. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has a relatively substantial number, issuing 21 tickets to women on the general seats.

“A patriarchal culture is the main factor in suppressing the participation of women in public life, including parliamentary politics. As you go down the social ladder, it becomes more difficult for women. The higher you go up the social ladder, the more women you will see wanting to join public life,” says Murtaza Solungi, the caretaker information minister.

A change of social order and culture is the basic prerequisite for women to join public life and parliamentary politics.

Sixteen women contested elections on the general seats in 1988; only three were successful. In 1990, out of the 12 women, two were successful; in 1993, out of 14, 4 were successful; in 2002, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, women’s representation in the National Assembly was 6.21 percent, with 13 women elected on the general seats. In 2008, 64 women participated in elections on the general seats nationwide, but only 16 were successful. However, in 2013, out of 135 women candidates, only 5 were successful.

“We have constrained women by establishing dedicated compartments for them. While the historic achievement of having Benazir Bhutto as the first female prime minister in Pakistan and the second in Asia brought great honour to the nation, contemporary challenges persist for women striving to assert themselves,” says Asma.

According to a report by the Free and Fair Election Network, dated February 2, 2023, 57 percent of women elected to reserved seats in the National Assembly are residents of six major cities: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

In the Sindh Assembly, 66 percent of women elected on reserved seats are from Karachi; in the Punjab Assembly, 59 percent of women with reserved seats have connections to Lahore; and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 50 percent have ties to Peshawar. In the Balochistan Assembly, 73 percent have affiliations with Quetta. All these women reaching the assembly through reserved seats are associated with politically influential families.

Azaz Syed, a senior journalist from Islamabad, says the women who have entered politics in Pakistan have also worked courageously. “Tehmina Daultana is one of the best examples in this regard; although there are many other examples. A problem arises when party leaders start selecting their relatives’ for these seats. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, as minister of state for finance, has done remarkable work although she was also on a reserved seat. The only issue is that we do not provide women opportunities based on merit.”

According to the FAFEN report, out of the country’s 136 districts, 105 districts do not have a single woman representative on the reserved seats in the National Assembly. In the Punjab, 23 districts; in Balochistan, 32 districts; in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 30 districts, and in Sindh, 20 districts lack women representation in the National Assembly.

Political parties issue tickets to women, with notable examples like Benazir Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz, but it is often argued that they are in politics because of the strong influence of their families. “Take the example of Zartaj Gul from the PTI. She was elected on a general seat with a big margin. The issue is not about providing women with tickets but rather a problem of under representation, says Azaz.

In the 2018 general elections, out of the 60 reserved seats for women in the National Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had secured 28, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz 16, Pakistan Peoples Party 9; and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal 2. The Grand Democratic Alliance, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Qaumi Watan Party, Balochistan Awami Party and Balochistan National Party each had a reserved seat for women.

The coalition cabinet formed by former prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif, consisted of 37 members, with only five positions allocated to women. These women were also part of the cabinet due to their deep political affiliations. The members included Maryam Aurangzeb, Hina Rabbani Khar, Shazia Marri, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and Sherry Rehman.

Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, the CPDI director, says that the purpose of reserved seats was to enable women’s representation.

The writer is an investigative freelance journalist contributing to national and international news media outlets.