Introduction:
A democratic system cannot function fully without the active participation of all citizens, including
women. Womens involvement in politics is crucial not just for gender equality, but also for the quality
of governance, policy making and social justice.In Pakistan,a patriarchal society with deep rooted
traditional values, Women’s journey into politics has been slow and filled with challenges.Despite
constitutional gurantees and international commitments, women remain underrepresented in
decision-making positions.
In recent years,the presence of women in Pakistans politics has increased.Reserved seats in the
assemblies and efforts by civil society has played a role in promoting gender equality.However, this
numerical rise does not necessarily translate into actual empowerment.Many women are nominated
by political parties and often function under male supervision or influence.Their roles are limited, and
their ability to bring meaningful change is questioned.
This Research aims to explore whether women’s representation in Pakistani Politics is symbolic_
meant just to fulfill quotas and show gender inclusion_or substantive _ allowing women to influence
policy and participate fully in governance.Through analysis of historical data, political case-
studies,and current challenges, this article assess the depth and effectiveness of women’s political
participation in Pakistan.
Literature Review:
The debate over symbolic versus substantive representation has been widely discussed in political
theory.Hanna Pitkin (1967) made a key distinction:Symbolic representation refers to the mere
presence of women in political roles, often without any real power or impact, while Substantive
representation means that women use their positions to advocate for and implement policies that
address Women’s and societal needs.n the Pakistani context, various studies have explored this issue. Bari (2005) noted that the
introduction of reserved seats did improve Women’s access to politics, but not necessarily their
effectiveness.She argues that most women are selected based on family connections or loyalty to
party leaders rather than political capability or grassroots work.
Rubina Saigol (2016) also points out that political parties in Pakistan often treat Women’s presence
as a token gesture.These Women’s are rarely given key positions or a real say in decision-making
processes.Ayesha khan (2011) provides a historical overview, noting that while women have been
active since the time of independence, their roles have been limited by culture, social norms,and
institutional structures.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (2023),women in Pakistan held 20.2% of seats in the
National Assembly,which is below the global average.The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
reported that only 5% of candidates in the 2018 elections were women.Reports from UN Women and
the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) echo these findings, stressing the
need for real empowerment and political space for women.
These studies suggest that while the number of women in politics may be increasing,their roles
remain largely symbolic, with limited influence over important political decisions.
Results and Discussions
1.Historical Background and Milestones:
Pakistan’s history includes several strong women figures.Fatima Jinnah, sister of the country’s
founder, was a significant political leader.The most prominent example is Benazir Bhutto,who
became the first female Prime Minister of a Muslim country in 1988. Her leadership proved that
women can lead even in conservative societies.
However, Benazir Bhutto’s example remains exceptional.The majority of female politicians have not
had similar autonomy or public support. Over the years, several legal provisions have been
introduced to increased Women’s participation:
The 1973 Constitution guarantees equal rights to women.
The legal framework order 2002 introduced 60 reserved seats for women in the National
Assembly and 17% in provincial assemblies.
The local government Ordinance 2001 allowed 33% Women’s representation in local
government.
These reforms helped bring more women into politics,but the process of their selection often remains
non-democratic and heavily controlled by party leadership.
2.Reserved Seats:Quantity vs Quality:
The reserved seats system has led to a steady increase in the number of women in
parliament.However, this numerical progress does not always translate into meaningful participation.
Women on reserved seats are nominated by political parties rather than elected by the public, and
often have limited independence.Studies by PILDAT(2020) show that such women are expected to
follow party lines without raising controversial issues.Furthermore,they are rarely given by ministries or commitee chairs.In most cases,male politicians
dominate decision-making processes.Even when women do raise important issues, their voices are
not taken seriously.As a result, their contributions often go unnoticed.
3.Social and Cultural Barriers:
Culture plays a major role in shaping women’s participation in Pakistani politics.Deep-rooted
patriarchy,gender discrimination,and conservative mindsets prevent many women from entering
politics.In some rural areas,women are still discouraged or even prevented from voting.In tribal areas
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan,there have been incidents where local elders signed
agreements banning women from casting votes.
Moreover,Women politicians face harassment, threats and media attacks.Online harassment is
particularly common.A study by Digital Rights Foundation (2021) revealed that many women
politicians were targeted on social media with abusive language and personal attacks.Such hostility
discourages women from playing an active role in political life.
4.Substantive Representation: Success Stories:
Despite challenges, several women have succeeded in making substantive contributions:
Benazir Bhutto: Apart from becoming Prime Minister,she introduced Women’s police
stations,first Women’s Bank,and worked on health reforms.
Fehmida Mirza:The first female Speaker of the National Assembly,she led important sessions
and represented Pakistan internationally.
Sherry Rehman:A leading voice on human rights and foreign affairs,she has served as
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S and as a senator.
Marvi Memon:workedon the Benazir Income Support Programme(BISP)and focused on
Women’s empowerment and financial inclusion.
Asia Nasir:A minority women who consistently spoke for religiousand gender rights in the
National Assembly.
These Women prove that when provided with opportunities,women can perform equally or even
better than their male counterparts.
5.Recent Data and Observations:
According to ECP(2018),women made up 44%of registered voters, but only 5% of electoral
candidates.
IPU(2013) ranked Pakistan 106th out of 190 countries in terms of women’s political
representation.
PILDAT(2021) showed women legislators participated in 23% of parliamentary discussions.
Only 2% of party leadership positions in mainstream stream parties are held by
women(NCSW,2022)
These figures highlight the structural and cultural limitations that prevent women from gaining full
political empowerment.
6.Political Parties and Leadership:Most political parties lack internal democracy when it comes to Women’s participation.While they
appoint women on reserved seats,they seldom allow them to contest general elections or hold key
offices.The major parties PPP,PML-N,PTI_ have few women in decision-making bodies.Parties must
take responsibility to train, support,and promote capable women leaders, rather than using them.as
symbolic figures to fulfill quotas.
Conclusion & Final Recommendations:
Womens representation in Pakistani politics has made progress in terms of numbers,especially due
to reserved seats.However, most of this representation remains symbolic rather than substantive.
Women are often selected based on loyalty or family ties and have little influence on policy
making.Cultural norms,party structures,and social barriers further restrict their ability to participate
actively and effectively.
Yet,there are exceptions_ women who have managed to brake barriers and contribute meaningfully to
political discourse and development.These cases show that change is possible but requires sustained
efforts.
Recommendations:
1.Reform the Reserved Seats Mechanism:
Reserved Seats should not be fulfilled through party nominations alone.Options like proportional
representation, direct elections, or merit-based processes should be explored.
2.Strengthen Internal Party Democracy:
Political Parties must promote capable women to leadership roles and give them tickets for general
seats,not just reserved ones.
3.Capacity-Building Programs:
Training sessions for women in politics should be organized on policy making, leadership and media
communication.
4.Legal Protection and Implementation:
Laws against gender-based violence and harassment in political spaces must be enforced strictly to
protect women politicians.
5.Cultural Change and Awareness Compaigns:
Society must be educated about the importance of women in leadership through media,educational
institutions, and community programs.
6.Encourage Youth Participation:
Young women should be encouraged to engage in student unions,youth Parliaments, and internships
to gain experience and interest in politics.7.Media Representation:
Medi should highlight positive stories of women in politics and avoid sensationalism or personal
attacks that discourage women.
References:
Bari,F.(2005).Women’s Political Particiaption : Issues and Challenges.United Nations.
Khan,A.(2011).Women and Politics in Pakistan:A Historical Overview. Heinrich Böll Foundation.
Saigol,R.(2016).Feminism and the Women’s Movemnt in Pakistan.Friedrich Ebert Stifung.
Inter-Parliamentary Union,(2023).Women in Politics. [https://www.ipu.org]
Election Commision Of Pakistan.(2018).Gender disagreegated Electoral Data.
PILDAT.(2021).Performance of Women Parliamentarians in Pakistan.
UN Women.(2022).Women’s Political Particiaption in Asia-Pacific.
Digital Rights Foundation.(2021).Online Harrasment of Women in Politics in Pakistan.
National Commision on the Status of Women.(2022).Gender in Political Parties Report.