Up to 27 women candidates of various political parties, including Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Pakistan Muslim League-N and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, are contesting for the 27 National Assembly general seats from the Punjab.
The Pakistan People's Party has 11 women candidates. They are Fozia Behram (NA-60 Chakwal-I), Rahila Parveen (NA-78 Faisalabad-IV), Syeda Sughran Imam (NA-87 Jhang-II), Syeda Abida Hussain (NA-88 Jhang-III), Dr Fardous Ashiq Awan (NA-111 Sialkot-II), Samina Khalid Ghurki (NA-130 Lahore-XIII), Noor ul Ain Rao (NA-134 Sheikhupura), Nasira Arshad (NA-142 Kasur-V), Shehnaz Javed (NA-163 Sahiwal IV), Aseem Daultana (NA-168 Vehari-II) and Hina Rabbani Khar (NA-177 Muzaffargarh-II).
The Pakistan Muslim League-Q has 7 candidates. They are Malik Shoaib Awan (NA-66 Sargodha-III), Sumaira Malik (NA-69 Khushab-I), Ghulam Bibi Bharwana (NA-87 Jhang-II), Farrkhanda Amjad Warriach (NA-92 Toba Tek Singh-I), Riffat Javed Khaloon (NA-117 Narowal-III), Nilofar Qasim Mahdi (NA-139 Kasur-II) and Shahida Sattar Lalika (NA-189 Bahawalnager-II).
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has named five candidates. They are Saira Afzal Tarar (NA-102 Hafizabad-I), Sumaira Naz (NA-115 Narowal-I), Sadia Shabir (NA-130 Lahore-XIII), Tehmina Daultana (NA-168 Vehari-II and NA-169 Vehari-III) and Zaib Jaffar (NA-193 Rahim Yar Khan-III).
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has only four women. They are Kokab Bukhari (NA-97 Gujranwala-III), Tahira Asif (NA-126 Lahore-IX), Dr Lala Rukh Mustafa (NA-146 Okara-IV) and Farkhanda Khalid (NA-152 Multan-V).
Statistics shows there are up to 35,637,714 registered women voters in the country with 20,074,688 voters in the Punjab, 8,618,739 in Sindh, 4,380,249 in the North West Frontier Province and 1,968,626 in Balochistan.
Analysts believe these women contesting the election could be a good sign for parliamentary form of government though they need more awareness about their voting rights.
Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Mehnaz Rafi said she had always used her right of franchise. She said, "When she was not associated with the PML she used to vote after going through the manifesto of political parties." Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Zakiya Shahnawaz said women voters had significant importance in the electoral process. "Every woman voter should cast her vote," she said.
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