ISLAMABAD, March 2: Representatives of women’s wings of seven major political parties and members of the civil society organizations have called upon the government to immediately lift ban on political activities and induct women as members of the Election Commission (EC).

Unanimously endorsing a resolution at a day-long national experience-sharing meeting organized by the Legislative Watch Programme of the Aurat Foundation, the participants reiterated their demand to fill 33 per cent reserved seats in the national and provincial legislatures through direct constituency-based elections.

“We urge the government to accede to the long-standing demand for 33 per cent reserved seats for women in the national and provincial assemblies, and the Senate, instead of the current 16 to 17 per cent reservation.”

The resolution demanded of the government to make the Election Commission totally independent, with the mandate and powers to ensure free and fair elections.

It said the political parties needed to ensure that 33 per cent members of the central and the provincial executive committees should be women with a view to providing them their due status in the mainstream political process.— Our Staff Reporter