Double challenge: Being Hazara & the first woman to stand in Quetta for NA

Published May 9, 2013
Pakistani candidate for national assembly for Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) party Ruquiya Hashmi, waves to supporters during an election campaign meeting in Quetta.
Pakistani candidate for national assembly for Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) party Ruquiya Hashmi, waves to supporters during an election campaign meeting in Quetta.
Hazara Shia community members and supporters of Ruquiya Hashmi, carrying electoral posters as they take part in an election campaign meeting.
Hazara Shia community members and supporters of Ruquiya Hashmi, carrying electoral posters as they take part in an election campaign meeting.
Ruquiya Hashimi (C) talks to people during her election campaign corner meeting.
Ruquiya Hashimi (C) talks to people during her election campaign corner meeting.
A woman holds a poster of Ruquiya Hashimi during her election campaign rally.
A woman holds a poster of Ruquiya Hashimi during her election campaign rally.
People lean against a wall with posters of Ruquiya Hashimi and a painting of Pakistan's national flag outside her election campaign office.
People lean against a wall with posters of Ruquiya Hashimi and a painting of Pakistan's national flag outside her election campaign office.
Ruquiya Hashimi (front R) talks to people during her election campaign corner meeting.
Ruquiya Hashimi (front R) talks to people during her election campaign corner meeting.

Ruquiya Hashmi, a doctor and a former soldier, faces a double challenge -- as well as being Hazara she is also the first woman to stand in Quetta for the national assembly. For the past few days she has had threatening phone calls and letters sent to her offices. She is running for Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), an ally of the outgoing government, but she is determined to stand up to the extremists. In the city that has become the epicentre for record sectarian bloodshed in Pakistan, Shia candidates are braving death threats to make themselves heard in Saturday's election. - Photos and text by Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.