In a significant departure from past practices of disenfranchisement, a record-breaking 123,039 women exercised their right to vote in Lower Dir district during the recent Feb 8 elections. This surge in female participation marks a notable shift in the local electoral landscape.
An official from the local election commission office, speaking to Dawn on Tuesday, highlighted the active involvement of women in the electoral process, a stark contrast to historical trends. Out of 389,043 registered female voters, an impressive 123,039 women cast their ballots across the district’s two national and five provincial assembly constituencies.
Historically, political parties in the region had often prohibited women from voting, sometimes even formalizing this disenfranchisement through written agreements among parties. However, following the election commission’s mandate requiring a minimum of 10 per cent female participation in each constituency, political parties relented and allowed women to exercise their voting rights.
Breaking down the numbers, official data reveals that in PK-14, 27,093 women turned out to vote. PK-15 saw 27,025 women casting their votes, while PK-17 had 21,051 women participating in the electoral process. Additionally, PK-18 recorded 17,957 women exercising their right to franchise.
Social and women’s rights activists such as Shad Begum, Ibrash Pasha, and Akbar Khan expressed satisfaction at the increasing role of women in the electoral process. They commended the Election Commission of Pakistan for ensuring women’s participation and lauded local staff and political leadership for their efforts in facilitating and motivating women to exercise this fundamental right.
Reflecting on these developments, activists emphasized that the days of barring women from electoral participation and decision-making were now behind them. The growing involvement of women in the recent elections signals a positive shift towards greater inclusivity and democratic engagement in Lower Dir district.
