Legislative Quotas for Women: A global and ... - Aurat Foundation

PakistanThe results of the general elections 2008 and the statutory quota ofreserved seats ensured a five-year berth for 216 women in the nationaland provincial legislatures. Of these, 205 were elected on reserved seatsfor women, one on reserved seat for non-Muslims and 27 came in on thegeneral seats. This brings the overall proportion of women’s legislativerepresentation in Pakistan to 19.9 percent, with the proportion evenhigher in the National Assembly (22.2%). Although this falls far short ofa minimum of 33% legislative representation through reservation, asdemanded by women members of political parties, women’s rights groupsand activists, and also as per the demands articulated in recommendationsby several officially-appointed women’s commissions, it is still the thirdhighest proportion of women’s legislative representation in South Asia,after 33.6% in Nepal, 27% in Afghanistan and followed by 9.1% in Indiaand 5.8% in Sri Lanka.Women’s presence in elected political institutions in Pakistan at thenational and provincial level in such a substantial number has had ahugely positive impact in transforming the socio-political perceptionsabout recognizing and legitimizing women’s entitlement to citizenshipand governance, as well as their inclusion in the public domain.Moreover, it has also resulted in unleashing a process to make women’sconcerns a visible priority on the national agenda. This place has beenearned by women themselves, through a long hard struggle and throughtheir collective, steady and patient journey to get organized, seen andheard, and recognised while living under and constantly confronting themost oppressive patriarchal socio-political and familial structures andshrunk spaces in society for almost three decades.Most recently, the election of Dr. Fehmida Mirza as the Speaker of theNational Assembly has reinforced positive perceptions of women’sabilities, particularly the ability of decision-making. Ms. Shahla Rizvi’selection as Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Provincial Assembly and theappointment of several women Ministers in the federal and provincialcabinets and as Advisors, will further strengthen the image of women’sbeing not only equally eligible and entitled to these posts, but also, beingequally capable to run these offices.43