Hameeda Shahid Makes History, Files Papers For General Seat From Upper Dir District

Taking on retrogressive forces head-on in conservative society of Upper Dir, a strong-nerve lady-Hameeda Shahid finally steps in political ring by filling nomination papers for general seat of the KP assembly from the remote and backward mountainous district Dir upper, where women voting almost non-existent.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jun, 2018 ) :Taking on retrogressive forces head-on in conservative society of Upper Dir, a strong-nerve lady-Hameeda Shahid finally steps in political ring by filling nomination papers for general seat of the KP assembly from the remote and backward mountainous district Dir upper, where women voting almost non-existent.

Upper Dir- once infamous for being dubbed as male-chauvinism belt when one peeped into preceding times which had been witnessing widespread disenfranchisement of woman's voters, took cynical elements by surprise by fielding woman candidate to run in next general election for general seat of KP assembly.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI)-backed Hameeda Shahid has submitted nomination paper from constituency Pk-10 Dir-1 with determination to play part as spearhead for protection of women's rights in the male-dominated society of Upper Dir.

Ms Hameeda Shahid who is a central leader of sports and women wing of PTI expressed gratitude to the party's leadership for reposing trust in her and vowed to come up to its expectations and work for the underdeveloped and ignored area of Dir, which she hailed from.

" Development is a process you know, evolving and continuing over span of decades, so it cannot be achieved overnight, I need support all of you of each individual no matter in which capacity he or she works for society," Hameeda Shahid who faced inquisitive journalists, stalking aspiring candidates outside local returning officer's office, with great composure and confidence.

Social activists and losing candidates in 2017 reported to the Election Commission about women disenfranchisement during the local government by-elections in tehsil and village council seats in the two districts in 2017.

According to media reports all the political parties in Darora union council had reached a verbal agreement a day before the poling day that women won't be allowed to cast vote and the district election commission office also ignored women voters by not setting up a single women polling station and booth in Darora UC.

Thus, one can conveniently hoped that participation of Hameeda Shahid in general election would arguer well for the entire area of upper dir which had been cracking under pressure of conservative elements, restricting women to boundary walls of their houses and did not want them to take part in active politics.

"Anti-development forces opine that women's emancipation will lead to breaking the society's equilibrium and as a result their petty interests would hurt in its wake," a female social worker observed while requesting not to be named.