ISLAMABAD – As many as 305 female candidates will contest on general seatsof National Assembly in the election scheduled to be held on July 25(Wednesday).
Around 45 political parties out of total 107 have awarded tickets to femalecandidates to fulfilling its legal obligation of allocating 5 percent seatsto women under the Election Act-2017.
As per the analysis of Form-33 released by the Election Commission ofPakistan (ECP) on its official portal, as many as 60 females are in fieldas independent candidates.
The provision of 5 percent ticket allocation to women is incorporated inthe Election Act 2017, which was passed by the last government. It is aimedat encouraging women’s active participation in the national politics.
Almost 55 political parties participating in the upcoming elections havenot awarded ticket to any female candidate due to the required numbers ofproportionate to male candidates. As many as 25 political parties havecrossed the threshold of five per cent that includes major politicalparties.
National Party (NP) with 12 percent women candidates is atop followed bythe Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) with 8.12 percent, Pakistan Peoples’ Party(PPP) 6.6 percent, Mutthida Qumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League(N) 5.7 percent, Mutthida Majlis Amal (MMA) 5.6 percent and PakistanTahreek-e- Insaf (PTI) 5.4 percent.
The seven political parties remained stick to the 5 per cent in award oftickets to women in order to observe the mandatory clause. They areBalochistan Awami Party (BAP), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Pakistan Justiceand Democratic Party (PJDP), Pakistan Awami Raj (PAR), Jannat PakistanParty (JPP) Aaman Taraqi Party (ATP) and Jamote Qaumi Party (JQP). – APP