The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has scrutinized various political parties for not meeting the constitutional requirement to allocate 5% of election tickets to women.
A four-member bench, chaired by ECP member Nisar Durrani, conducted a hearing to address the issue. During the proceedings, the ECP examined ticket allocation data from several parties.
For example, BNP Mengal’s lawyer reported that the party had nominated 27 candidates for the provincial assembly, only two of whom were women, and 11 candidates for the National Assembly, with none being women. This resulted in BNP Mengal’s female ticket allocation rate being just 3.8%, according to ECP officials.
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In contrast, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) defended its record by claiming that it had issued tickets to all women who applied. However, ECP officials noted that TLP was expected to allocate tickets to 34 women but had only issued 10. The TLP lawyer argued that the Constitution does not mandate that parties must contest elections, a point also reiterated by TLP representatives.
Jamaat-e-Islami was also reviewed, with officials noting that the party allocated only 4% of its tickets to women. Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyer stated that while the party aimed to meet the quota, they faced issues with submission deadlines and withdrawal of papers. The lawyer highlighted the need to consider regional challenges in evaluating ticket distribution.
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The Awami National Party (ANP) reported a 3.7% allocation rate for women’s tickets overall but noted a higher rate of 13% in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They faced challenges in Sindh and Punjab, according to their representative.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) was criticized for allocating just 1.51% of its tickets to women. The ECP is emphasizing the importance of adhering to the 5% quota to boost female participation in elections.
Notices have been issued to BNP Mengal, PAT, and Jamaat-e-Islami for failing to meet the quota, and they have been directed to submit their responses. The hearing on the women’s quota issue has been rescheduled to October 2.
Women’s organizations have called for stricter penalties for non-compliance with the 5% quota requirement. ECP officials and advocates continue to stress the need for adherence to the legal quota to enhance female involvement in the political process.
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