Khalida Mansoor: a woman of substance

It is almost impossible to merge the theory and practice of political science as both are oceans apart in their respective applications. But PML-N’s renowned parliamentarian, Khalida Mansoor, has a credit to combine together in a fine mix the two opposite extremes of teaching and practicing politics. The lecturer-turned politician has spent the best part of her life in exploring new avenues of community service in the tough political valleys of power politics of Pakistan during her long journey from a municipal councillor to a member of the National Assembly.
She is one of the few national figures that rose to legislative seats from the grassroots levels. On the social horizons of Faisalabad, her name is synonymous with the struggle for equal rights of women in Pakistani society that has strong gender prejudices against the fair sex. “The constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan gives equal rights to both men and women, but in practice it is not the case,” she said in an exclusive interview to Pakistan Today. “Unlike the books of law and legislation, the ground reality reflects a picture where women are rarely visible in positions of power, but the situation is positively changing at all levels.
For instance, women parliamentarians in PML-N have moved a recommendation in the party that women must be given an equal representation in the central working committee of the party,” she said. “It is high time for our society to realise at a collective level that public perceptions against women must change,” she opined. The story of success of MNA Khalida Mabnsoor is, in fact, the story of constant, untiring and endless struggle of a woman. “When I took up as a municipal councillor for the first time in 1979 with the support of Awam Dost panel of PPP, I was snubbed by my senior colleagues who were skeptical of my performance,” remembered Khalida Mansoor who has a master’s degree in political science.
“But I faced everyone with confidence and proved that I was here to deliver,” she said. “In recognition of my commitment to the masses I was given the slot of the chairperson of health committee by the Mayor of Faisalabad,” she recollected. Through her pioneering role in the committee she brought radical changes in the system with a special focus on women’s health. “Through the power of argument I was able to convince the house to allocate budget for women’s health. After successful handling of my first assignment in the municipal assembly, my male colleagues began to take me as a serious contender,” she said.
She was appointed the chairperson of the education committee in her second term as a councillor. “It was the watershed era of my political career in the district assembly,” she said. “At the education committee, I was the first to prepare a seniority list of teaching staff in the municipal schools for their promotions. “We introduced a plethora of extracurricular activities such as speech contests, essay writing competitions and annual day functions at the schools,” she added.
Khalida Mansoor continued to change her roles in the district assembly but the spirit of raising the status of women remained unchanged. When she was made chairperson of the social welfare committee in her third term as a councilor, she was instrumental in a fund-raising campaign to establish a maternity hospital with the support of Red Crescent Society. She is the founder of a local NGO, Zeenat Welfare Society. providing skill development education and training to women. As a member of District Focal Group (DFG), a local think tank, she played a leading role in identifying the local issues.
After joining PML in 1987, she served as the president of PML-N Women Wing, Faisalabad. Her political career got a massive boost when she was nominated as a member of the Punjab Assembly in 2002 by her party. “It was a trying time for our party as our top leadership was living in exile,” she said. The top line leadership of PML-Q tried very hard to convince her to join the ruling party. “The material temptations were very high but my allegiance to PML-N was over and above all other considerations,” she said.
Her character, straight forwardness, integrity and unshakable belief in her leadership entitled her to another political elevation when Nawaz Sharif recommended her to take up as an MNA after 2008 elections. “Since 2008, I have been actively participating in the National Assembly’s question hour, call attention notices and other proceedings of the legislative body. I have raised the burning national issues such as increasing electricity rates, agriculture, water crisis, Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s case, incidents of violence against women and a lot of vital issues in the house,” she claimed.
On the participation of women in active politics, Khalida Mansoor says time has come for the women of Pakistan to contest elections on general seats. “This will give them a broader role in the political parties as well as among the voters,” she said. “I have devoted myself for the uplift of economically-routed segments in Faisalabad, in general, and in my ancestral village Chak No 127 RB Behlolpur and surrounding areas of NA 75 in Chak Jhumra, in particular,” she said.
Khalida Mansoor, who is also the divisional organiser of PML-N, says that women parliamentarians are more disciplined, more punctual and more involved in the National Assembly proceedings.