Female Contestants See No Need Of Any Quota System

Female candidates contesting the upcoming general election from federal capital expressing dissatisfaction over the quota system said there was no need of reserved seats for women in parliament as well as award of party tickets to them on general seats recently imported into the Election Act 2017.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2018 ) :Female candidates contesting the upcoming general election from Federal capital expressing dissatisfaction over the quota system said there was no need of reserved seats for women in parliament as well as award of party tickets to them on general seats recently imported into the Election Act 2017.

"The ratio is not matching the women population quantum as they make around 50 percent of the total count, therefore the quota system should be expunged to ensure the gender equality in letter and spirit," they told APP.

Awami Workers Party leader Ismat ShahJahan contesting from NA-54 stressed to abolish the selection of women on reserved seats for their proper representation in national politics and appealed to all political parties to support female contestants financially and morally in their campaigns to encourage them for their active participation in the election.

"There is a big difference between nominated candidate and selected one as an elected candidate comes in the parliament with his/her voters' mandate that build his/her confidence for exercise of powers," she said.

She, however, admitted that the reserved seats quota have proved instrumental in bringing the women in national politics and acquainting them with procedure of legislation as well as parliamentary affairs.

Nosheen Kharl, a candidate from NA-54 representing Pakistan Justice Party, was of the view that women were playing their role shoulder to shoulder with men in all fields, so that there should be equal treatment with them without any quota.

"We the women do not deserve this system and I will raise my voice against it at every forum if elected," she added.

Quoting the Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan she said it stressed on the equality of every gender living in the country and termed the system a sheer violation of the basic rights of the citizens. The authorities concerned should take stern notice against the violation of this fundamental right.

"The women should have the equal seats as men have if we are really sincere in promoting the gender equality, "she remarked.

Meanwhile, Sumaira Gul of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), contesting election from NA-62, termed the quota of five per cent women on general seats an abortive attempt to encourage the women for national politics and added "I am astonished to see that only 5 per cent women will represent the 50 per cent of the country at national level," she added.

She urged the upcoming government if they could not abolish it then at least extend this quota by 33 per cent at par the local government system to boost their confidence.

Sumaria regretted "I am the only female electioneering in my constituency and missing a female competitor. This quota is extremely insufficient. "