Women’s Political Exclusion Persists in Punjab’s Moharipur

Faisal Saleem

Khanewal: With just few hours remaining until the 2024 general elections, women residing in the suburbs of Moharipur, Dharnal, or Sahiwal express persistent concerns about potential social boycotts due to their decision to cast their votes.

For many decades now, women in Moharipur have been barred from exercising their voting rights, a restriction rooted in obscure traditions, subjective judgments, and the egos of local men.

Moharipur, a village situated in the Khanewal district of Punjab, where women adhere to an unknown tradition, refraining from participating in any elections in Pakistan.

Located in the tehsil of Kabirwala, within the district of Khanewal, Moharipur is positioned 15 km away from the central town of Kabirwala.

Under the condition of anonymity, a resident from the locality informed this scribe that in 1946, a notable family in the area, whose identity remains undisclosed, enforced a ban on women’s participation in elections. This ban has persisted to the present day.

They considered it inappropriate for women, asserting that it was solely the responsibility of men. Due to this custom, no women cast their votes until 2015.

During the 2015 local body elections, the male residents of Mohripur, who had previously denied women voting rights, faced a significant challenge when Fauzia Qaiser, a local resident, took a stand.

Fauzia Qaiser petitioned the Lahore High Court (LHC) Multan bench, ensuring security for herself and other women during the elections. On election day, she made history as the first woman in the village to cast her ballot.

Moharipur falls within the jurisdiction of National Assembly Constituency NA-144 (previously No 150), Provincial Constituency PP-205, and Union Council No 25 Mari Sahu, located in Khanewal district.

According to the 2017 Census, the town has a population of 9,014 residents, with 4,835 registered voters, including 1,883 women voters. The village is home to individuals from various castes, such as Aulkh Kamboh, Sahu, Sargana, Sahi, Khokhar, and Saadat.

When inquired about the status of women’s polling participation in the February 8 elections, the District Election Commissioner clarified that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) couldn’t undertake any specific initiatives in Mohripur to encourage female voters.

However, dedicated polling stations for women have been set up at the Government Girls High School in Mohripur to actively promote their engagement in the voting process.

Despite indications from local sources that women in Mohripur may choose not to vote, the presence of separate polling stations will help highlight the issue if local females indeed refrain from voting, he said. The responsibility now lies with the ECP to determine the seriousness with which it addresses this matter.

First Woman Voter

In defiance of this custom, Moharipur resident Fauzia Qaiser secured security for herself and other women in the 2015 local elections by filing a petition with the Lahore High Court (LHC) Multan bench. On election day, she became the first woman in the village to cast a ballot.

In the 2018 elections, 51.99 percent of voters nationwide and 56.8 percent of voters in Punjab cast ballots. In NA-150, women made up 55.56 percent of the voting population, males made up 61 percent, and the total was 58.62 percent.

The degree to which local men adhere to the aforementioned tradition can be determined by noting that Ghulam Mustafa Aulakh Advocate, the former chairman of UC-25, chose to lose the 2002 local body election by 150 votes rather than attempt to defy the custom.

Afzal Aulakh, a lambardar from Moharipur, is unaware of the exact moment when his ancestors chose to forbid women from voting, but he is aware that ever since independence, every one of his ancestors has opposed granting his women the right to vote.

The promotion of women’s involvement in the democratic process is emphasized in Section 9, Chapter 2 of the Elections Act 2017. This provision stipulates that women must contribute at least 10 percent of the votes in each constituency and account for 40 percent of the total votes cast.

Under the Election Act of Pakistan 2017, any constituency where the female voter turnout falls below 10 percent will have its polling results invalidated.

It is important to note that in previous general elections conducted under the Election Act 2017, the ECP accepted the results from these polling stations without addressing the issue of women’s non-participation in voting.

In response to a filed RTI request, the District Election Commission provided information pertaining to Union Council No 25 as a whole, rather than specifically addressing Moharipur. They stated that women in Union Council No 25 had participated in the 2013 and 2018 elections, indicating no restrictions on female participation in the council.

Consequently, they asserted that no further action was deemed necessary in this union council. However, a detailed examination of the polling station-wise results for the Moharipur area within Union Council 25 during the 2018 elections (Page No. 70-73) reveals that not a single vote was cast by women at any of the four polling stations in Moharipur.

Similarly, a report published by FAFEN in 2013 also documented incidents of women being prevented from voting in Moharipur.

Farida Shaheed, a sociologist, asserts that voting represents a fundamental aspect of freedom of expression, and should not be subject to restrictions imposed by others.

She contends that if women in Moharipur or other areas adhere to this tradition, it is likely not by choice. Shaheed recommends that the requirement of 10 percent female voting, as stipulated in the Election Act, should be enforced at each individual polling station rather than across the entire constituency.

Former Member of the District Council Khanewal, Bismillah Iram, organized a mock voting exercise during the Voter Education Day on December 7, 2023, in Moharipur to encourage local women to participate in elections. This initiative was well-received by the women in the area. The village of 111/9-L falls within Sahiwal II, NA-161 (currently No. 142), and PP 220 (currently Ward 198).

Shakir Khan, a 61-year-old resident of the village, stated that prominent casts residing in the village include Joiya, Watto, and Khokhar.

He mentioned that women from their community are only permitted to vote if all the male members are deceased. Despite having 685 registered women voters in this village, they have not participated in elections since Pakistan’s independence.

Former DSP Malik Ashraf, who participated in public awareness initiatives, noted that during the 2015 elections, the district administration and the chairperson of the Special Commission for Women, Fauzia Waqar, made efforts to persuade the men of Mohripur.

However, these endeavors proved unsuccessful. One such attempt involved providing an all-female staff at the village girls’ school, but despite these efforts, the women did not exercise their right to vote.

According to local journalist Muhammad Ali Ayaz, the prevailing belief among women in this area is that they are not permitted to vote, which inhibits their participation. He contends that unless local leaders address this issue, the situation is unlikely to change.

Samia Bibi, a 55-year-old widow, expresses her dismay, stating that no women vote in Moharipur, and thus, there is no discussion about voting within their households.

Shumaila Bibi, aged 26 and a resident of the area, highlights that women from the village who marry outside are able to vote in their new residences, while those who remain in the village are unable to cast their votes.

Raza Hayat Haraj, who has won three consecutive times from the same national constituency, notes that according to regional tradition, men primarily engage with other men, resulting in limited involvement of women in election campaigns. Consequently, he made direct efforts to persuade local leaders in this area.

However, as he lacks direct access to women, he remains unaware of the primary reason why women refrain from voting. After numerous attempts, it was concluded that the decision to allow women to vote ultimately rests with the local residents.

Whether they hail from Moharipur, Dharnal, or Sahiwal suburbs, women continue to experience persistent fears of social boycott when it comes to casting their votes. These restrictions stem from obscure traditions, subjective judgments, and the egos of local men. Such practices not only undermine the democratic process but also contravene international declarations and conventions.

These violations include Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, which enshrines the right of all human beings to participate in elections, and Article 7 of the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, guaranteeing women the right to vote and contest elections.

Faisal Saleem is a freelance journalist from Khanewal, Punjab. He writes on politics, social, and climate change related issues. He can be accessed at iamhere020@gmail.com

All information and facts provided are the sole responsibility of the writer.

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