“I aspire to empower minority communities by actively engaging in the development of national educational policies that foster justice and inclusivity. Moreover, I am dedicated to improving literacy rates among religious minorities,” says Sonia Asher, a candidate in Election 2024 for the Punjab Assembly on a seat reserved for women. “However, running for election as a woman and pastor presents its challenges. I have faced considerable criticism. In the face of challenges, drawing inspiration from the courage and wisdom of biblical figures such as Deborah and Esther, I view my active involvement in the political system as a calling to serve my community,” she adds.

The intersectionality of gender, class, religion and profession creates intricate and multifaceted challenges that result in the marginalisation of minority women in the political system. Numerous countries worldwide, including Pakistan, have instituted various policies to enhance the political representation of women and minority groups. Some countries have quota policies to address historical underrepresentation and provide more opportunities for marginalised groups especially women and minorities. Given the dearth of research to establish whether women from minority groups derive benefits from the current quota systems is lacking, the impact of these policies on the election of minority women remains poorly understood.

In examining the involvement of minority women concerning quota policies in the political sphere, it’s important to note that the constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, regardless of their gender or minority status. Articles 20, 21, 22, 25, 26 and 27 specifically prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, caste, sex, residence or place of birth.

In Pakistan, religious minorities make up 3.5 percent of the population. The predominant minority communities are Hindus and Christians. Their main concentrations are found in the Sindh (over 90 percent) and Punjab (over 80 perent) provinces, respectively. The constitution guarantees the political participation of minorities by reserving 10 seats for religious minorities in the National Assembly, four in the Senate and 23 in the four provincial assemblies. Besides this, minority women in Pakistan have the opportunity to participate in elections for both general seats and seats reserved for women. Despite these constitutional provisions, minority women often face challenges in terms of their socio-economic and political status.

Data from the last Punjab Assembly reveals a stark disparity. Among the 371 seats, only one Christian woman held representation and there was no Hindu woman.

Article 106 of the constitution outlines the composition of Provincial Assemblies, designating seats for women and non-Muslims. In the case of the Punjab, there are a total of 371 seats, 297 general seats, 66 reserved for women; and eight reserved for minorities. Likewise, Mangla Sharma was the only member of the previous Provincial Assembly of Sindh. The assembly comprises 168 seats, including 130 general seats, 29 seats reserved for women; and 9 seats reserved for non-Muslim.

Being the largest and oldest political parties in the country, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party bear the primary responsibility of demonstrating their commitment to integrating minority women into mainstream politics. Despite setting a notable example by electing Krishna Kumari as a senator on a seat reserved for women, the PPP has not succeeded in bringing any Hindu women into the Sindh Assembly.

An examination of the party’s priority list for reserved seats is instructive. All the names in the PPP’s priority list for reserved seats for minorities in the Sindh Assembly are men. The list submitted by the PMLN in the Punjab has a slightly better composition having included two women, Shakeela Arthur and Joyce Julius. However, their placement at positions 7 and 8 gives them only marginal chance of becoming PA members. The nomination of Sonia Asher, a Christian, on a seat reserved for women suggests that the party is likely to maintain its tradition of bringing at least one Christian woman into the assembly.

Over several decades, international democratic systems and multilateral organisations, including the United Nations, the European Union, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the UNIFEM (now integrated into UN Women), and the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance have consistently tried to enhance the representation of women and religious minorities in the realm of politics.

Despite some progress, women and minorities - especially minority women - still lack adequate representation in top-tier political roles.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women indirectly supports the inclusion of minority women without an explicit mention. Similarly, the Beijing Declaration, the EU Gender Action Plan, the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections, UN Women’s Strategic Plan, and the IDEA’s Framework for Assessing Gender Equality in Political Parties all contribute to promoting democracy and gender equality.

Despite numerous international and national commitments, minority women in Pakistan face a multitude of challenges as they navigate their way in the political sphere in a male-dominated, predominantly Muslim society. The seats designated for women are often allocated to Muslim women and seats reserved for minorities to minority men.

Effectively addressing these challenges calls for a nuanced approach that acknowledges the interconnected nature of discrimination and disadvantage. To address the issue of underrepresentation of minority women in politics in Pakistan, it is essential to consider a comprehensive approach involving political parties, the government and civil society. Here are some recommendations:

- Conduct a comprehensive study to assess the existing representation of minority women in Pakistani politics at various levels - local bodies, Provincial and National Assemblies and the Senate. Also, examine their presence in legislative bodies, political parties and key decision-making positions.

- Cultivate an inclusive culture within political parties by championing diversity across all levels. This entails ensuring the representation of minority women in pivotal decision-making bodies in the party and establishing an environment where they feel welcome and valued.

- Develop and implement a sustained media campaign that highlights the achievements, challenges and perspectives of minority women.

- Introduce scholarship programmes specifically designed to support and encourage minority women to pursue higher education in political science and related fields.

- Collaborate with civil society organisations to develop and implement targeted empowerment programmes that provide skills training, mentorship and networking opportunities for minority women interested in politics.

The writer is a leadership consultant and a visiting fellow at Stanford University. She is a former member of National Commission on the Rights of the Child. She has a doctorate in leadership studies from the University of San Diego, California. She tweets @RubinaFBhatti