Pakistan

PESHAWAR: A woman contender from Fata and a couple of others from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made headlines in national and international media after jumping into the election arena, but none of them could win any seat either in national or the provincial assembly.

A senior female Pakistani politician has been shot dead in the southern port city of Karachi. Zahra Shahid Hussain was the senior vice-president of Pakistan's Movement for Justice party (PTI), led by former international cricketer Imran Khan. 

The Researchers (TR) under its initiatives - Pakistan Governance Forum (PGF) and Women & Politics in Asia Forum (WPAF) - undertook observation of Election 2013 with a gender lens. This was in pursuance of organizations ten years effort to observe and document women role in electoral and political processes  since 2002. Mr. Aazar Ayaz, the Executive Director, informed that a complete report focusing women performance in pre-poll, poll day and post poll phases will be launched as soon as ECP completes election result and government formation is completed.

Out of 272 general seats, only six women reached in the National Assembly and eight women got hold of general seats in the Punjab assembly, out of 297 general seats.  Although the manifestos of all mainstream political parties claimed greater political participation by women but post polls situation defies the claims. The political parties winning in general election 2013 have shown abysmally low share in general seats for them, said by Gender Election Monitoring Cell.

Out of 272 general seats, only six women reached in the National Assembly and eight women got hold of general seats in the Punjab assembly, out of 297 general seats.  Although the manifestos of all mainstream political parties claimed greater political participation by women but post polls situation defies the claims. The political parties winning in general election 2013 have shown abysmally low share in general seats for them, said by Gender Election Monitoring Cell.

Gender Election Monitoring Mission issues preliminary report here on Monday reported huge women voter turnout in General Election 2013 who remained standing in queues since morning till the closing time. “Despite pre-election times threats and attacks, female voters turned out in big numbers often present from the beginning, very enthusiastic, including old age, middle age, youth, mothers with babies and children, disabled women, women carers coming along with their families, neighbours, relatives or friends” said Sabra Bano, Head of the Mission.

When Pakistan's new foreign minister arrived in India for talks in 2011 it triggered a media storm on both sides of the border –