The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in a recent survey has revealed that only 19 women candidates, one percent of the total 1499 candidates, contested the recently held Cantonment Boards elections.
FAFEN reported that of 19 women candidates, nine contested independently, while three were awarded tickets by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), two by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and one each by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League (PML).
FAFEN highlighted that despite Section 206 of the Elections Act, 2017 warranting political parties to ensure a minimum five percent quota for women on elective seats including candidates for the Parliament and provincial assemblies, it remains unclear whether and how it may be applied upon for the local government elections, it reported.
