Women's representation lacking in K-P Assembly

Express Tribune

08-03-2025

Although the entire country celebrated International Women's Day like the rest of the world, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly has been without female lawmakers for the past one year.
K-P Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, while speaking on the occasion, said the lack of representation of women on reserved seats in the provincial assembly was a regrettable reality which had exposed the Election Commission's clear injustice and discriminatory behaviour.
He said that ignoring women's political participation was a violation of democratic and constitutional principles and noted that seats reserved for women in the Assembly remained vacant which not only violated women's rights but also weakened the parliamentary system.
"It is extremely regrettable that, on International Women's Day, women in the K-P Assembly are still deprived of their constitutional representation," the Speaker said, demanding that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should make an immediate decision on reserved seats and ensure that women receive their rightful representation, thus completing the democratic system.
He assured that the Assembly would continue to raise its voice for women's rights protection on every platform and ensure women's participation in the democratic process.
K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, in his message on International Women's Day, emphasized that women were the cornerstone of any society's progress and prosperity.
He stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had always been committed to protecting women's rights and dignity and would continue its efforts for the cause.
He highlighted the vision of the late Benazir Bhutto who, he said, had strongly advocated equal opportunities for women so they could excel in all fields.