Bill introduced by PPP MNA proposes minimum allocation of 10% general seats for women and 33% quota of women in general councils
The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs unanimously adopted a bill on Sunday to amend the political parties order and proposed a minimum allocation of 10 percent general seats for women and a 33 percent quota of women in general councils.
The private members’ bill, introduced by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s NA members Dr Nafisa Shah and Dr Azra Fazal Pecheco aimed at ensuring meaningful representation of women in the political process.
The committee’s head Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Mian Abdul Manan convinced other members that the PPP MNAs were pursuing the bill rigorously and they should not oppose the idea to enhance women representation in the decision-making process.
“Once the bill gets the parliament’s approval, I will introduce further amendments in the bill regarding area wise representation of women,” Shah reportedly said.
“The bill seeks to protect and strengthen women’s representation in the political and legislative process,” she added.
“Representation of women in the present parliament is less than the previous set up,” the PPP MNA said, citing her reason for introducing the bill to ensure women’s meaningful representation in the democratic setup.
In the bill, Shah proposed that every political party should select a minimum of 10 percent women candidates for elective officers for general seats.
“Every political party should have a minimum of 33 percent quota for women in the party’s elected general council and in any associated party committee and forum at the federal, provincial and local levels of the party, wherever applicable, and to whatever names these may be referred to,” the bill proposed an amendment in Article 10 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Shah said that the performance of the women parliamentarians was satisfactory and they had proved themselves active, intelligent and relevant in the process of legislation and other parliamentary debates.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill suggest that the national and international commitments of the government of Pakistan, including the Constitution, the National Policy for the Development and Empowerment of Women (NPDEW) 2002, Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) underscore attainment of non-discriminatory and equal opportunities for women in the public and political spheres as inextricably linked to human right, democracy and inclusive sustainable development and human security.
