GIVEN that patriarchal ideologies have largely defined political territory in Pakistan, and political parties have done little to promote women as candidates or to encourage them to vote, the Sindh Assembly’s move to increase women’s reserved seats in local government from 22 to 33pc is welcome. But while the amendment to the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, will certainly enhance political inclusivity, one hopes that the usual bureaucratic lethargy will not keep the law department from formulating the ‘rules of business’ for this law — rules that guarantee implementation. Setting a timeline for framing rules is mandatory; without this, well-intentioned pro-women legislation would be pointless. Under Sindh’s domestic violence law, for example, district committees to protect women victims have yet to be formed. Nevertheless, the Sindh Assembly’s consensus on protective legislation aimed at women and children sets a precedent for other provincial legislatures. Indeed, the discriminatory attitude of certain assemblies that seem to have abdicated responsibility by not standing up to pressure from the conservative lobby is condemnable.

Suffice it to say that women with political ambitions have little or no agency unless backed by wealth, influence and political parties. Many argue that quotas initiated as an entry point for women are best kept intact because rigid cultural and economic barriers barring women from contesting elections are problematic. To ease out quotas, parties should give women tickets to contest for the general seats, while relentless lobbying across party lines, by women specifically, is needed for gender-inclusive laws. Before the next election, parties must reform unfair gender discrimination ensuring selection practices are transparent. Many women are determined to drive political change. Consider Badam Zari from Bajaur Agency, the first-ever independent candidate contesting from the tribal areas for a National Assembly seat in 2013. She showed resilience despite cultural drawbacks. Parties must identify and allot tickets to female councillors with success at community projects — education, sanitation, water and healthcare. This is how women can spearhead wider socio-political change.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2016