Senate panel rejects PTI bill on women’s role in political process

ISLAMABAD: A Senate standing committee on Monday turned down a private member’s bill moved by a PTI senator that sought changes to the Elections Act aimed at increasing women’s participation in politics.

The proposal came before the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which met under the chairmanship of Senator Tahir Khalil to examine the Elections (Amendment) Bill tabled by PTI Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur.

Among the key proposals in the bill was a requirement for political parties to ensure that at least 33 per cent of their office-bearers at the federal, provincial and district levels are women. It also proposed that parties failing to meet that condition should be denied the allocation of an election symbol.

The draft legislation further called for intra-party elections to be held through secret ballot under an accredited independent election authority. It stated:

At least 33 pc of positions filled through internal elections must be reserved for women, with proportional allocation for non-Muslims and persons with disabilities,

while another proposed clause said:

The code of conduct shall require parties to allocate 10 pc of party funds to political training, leadership development, and election-awareness programmes targeted at women, non-Muslims, and persons with disabilities,

During the meeting, Dr Zarqa argued for stronger representation of women in politics and said the existing five per cent quota for women on general seats under the Elections Act, 2017 should be raised. She told the committee that women make up nearly half of the country’s population and stressed that women, especially those who do not come from political families, should be given equal opportunities to contest elections.

She also proposed that polling stations should provide facilities for persons with disabilities, including ramps to improve access for voters.

The secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs told the committee that amendments to the Elections Act had been introduced periodically and that proposals under review had been examined in consultation with the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Ministry of Law. He said the suggestions had value, but their practical feasibility also needed careful consideration.

Officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan informed the committee that, before elections, a detailed survey had been carried out to identify polling stations offering the greatest available facilities, including electricity, boundary walls, washrooms, water supply and ramps. They said such matters might be better addressed through the ECP’s administrative guidelines instead of being written into the law.

JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza said existing laws should be implemented effectively and cautioned against introducing provisions that may be difficult to enforce in practice.

PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid expressed similar reservations, saying many of the proposed steps were already being handled by the ECP. He added that election laws were sensitive and complex, and any changes should be weighed carefully so they improve transparency and public confidence without creating unnecessary complications for political parties. He also suggested that parties discuss such proposals internally and bring forward recommendations based on consensus.

MQM-P Senator Khalida Ateeb said a large number of members in her party came from the middle class. Referring to her own experience, she said she had progressed from being a school teacher to becoming a senator on the basis of merit and ability.

After detailed discussion, the committee rejected the proposed amendment to the Elections Act, 2017.