"HRCP and Aurat Foundation Raise Alarm Over Political Parties' Failure to Meet Women's Representation Quota"

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Aurat Foundation are worried because big political parties are not following the rule that says they must give at least 5% of their party tickets to women for general seats. This rule is in Section 206 of the Elections Act 2017. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recently made a statement on a social media platform called X. They suggested that it is important to have a certain number of women in political positions. They asked political parties to take action and make sure that at least one-third of their candidates for general seats are women. 

The statement undergoes the significance of having an equal number of men and women in politics. It emphasizes that it is crucial for the government to include more women in order to have fair and inclusive representation.The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its support for the Islamabad High Court's decision to ask the Election Commission of Pakistan for an explanation regarding this matter. The Aurat Foundation recently called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to guarantee that every political party reserves five percent of their tickets for women candidates in both provincial and national assemblies. Expressing deep concern over the delay in political parties releasing their final candidate lists, the organization emphasized that complying with Article 206 is a legal requirement for parties to be eligible for receiving electoral symbols. The Aurat Foundation has stated that it is necessary, both legally and constitutionally, to ensure the inclusion of women in electoral and political activities.

 They emphasized that if political parties fail to meet this requirement, they will not be allowed to participate in elections. The foundation also commended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for their efforts in protecting women's rights and expressed their hope that the ECP will ensure that 5% of party tickets are allocated to women. The request for action is based on the Elections Act, 2017, which requires a minimum of 5 percent female candidates in general seats.

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The objective is to tackle gender inequalities in political representation and create a setting where women are actively involved in shaping the nation's future. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has urged political parties to guarantee a minimum of 5% representation of women on general seats in the forthcoming general elections, scheduled for February 8. The ECP spokesperson emphasized that it is the joint responsibility of all political parties to contribute towards a democracy that is more inclusive and representative.