Elections 2018: major parties reject Cabinet's approval to allocate five percent tickets to women

Majority of the political parties on Friday rejected the federal Cabinet's approval to make it mandatory to allocate five percent tickets to women, and for results in the elections 2018 to be valid, ten percent of the total polled votes must be from women.
In a bid to increase the participation of women in electoral process, the federal cabinet approved the proposals followed by the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) where the issues were discussed in detail. A member of the electoral reforms committee who declined to be named said that the government is not serious about implementation of these proposals, but is using them as a bargaining chip to deal with opposition political parties.
He said that even members of the ruling party in the reforms committee opposed these provisions, saying it could not be implemented in the current circumstances. "Before finalizing any such provision which could not be implemented especially in rural and tribal areas, the government should build a consensus, or else it will be a futile exercise," he added.
Talking to Business Recorder, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) Naeema Kishwar Khan, who is also a member of the electoral reforms committee, said that her party had strongly opposed both the proposals, as it should not be made binding.
"We want 100 percent participation of women in electoral process but there are some areas in Balcohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and tribal areas where circumstances for such proposals are not conducive," she added.
She said that the parties may agree on five percent women votes out of the total polled votes in a constituency to make results valid, but advised the government to first build consensus on it.
She also said that the members of all opposition political parties including JUI-F, an ally of the government, have given dissenting notes, adding her party will oppose both the proposals. To a question to give five percent tickets to women by all the parties in general elections, she said that JUI-F has also rejected it as women can not lead their election campaigns given our conservative society.
Jamat-e-Islami MNA Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqoob also categorically said that his party would not support the bill, as it is not possible to ensure women participation in elections in rural and tribal areas.
"We've supported the participation of women in election process but it should be done gradually," he added.
He said that the party is ready to support the government if there is some punishment for those who intentionally bar women from taking part in elections or casting their votes.
He declared the proposals a mere eyewash to please the west, and foreign donors, saying the government itself is reluctant to give 5 percent tickets to women.
"Some members of the ruling government have also agreed in the meeting of the electoral reforms committee that it should be done through consensus," he added.
A senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the implementation sounds good but it can not be implemented as there is a need to bring some drastic reforms in the overall electoral process.
"The women folk will automatically come forward to take part in politics if you restore their trust in the system. Your system is completely flawed, so the focus should be rigging-free elections," he added.
However, Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (retd) of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that his party had no issue with the proposals as it is the only party which gives tickets to women of the party.
"It's a good thing and the government should ensure its implementation in letter and spirit," he added. Senator Taj Haider of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) stated that his party had no issue with increasing the percentage of tickets to women in elections as there are already women lawmakers who have made it to parliament by contesting elections on general seat. "Five percent ticket to women is nothing. I would rather say it should be further increased, and there should be re-elections in areas where women are not allowed to caste their votes," he added.