The Case of Institutionalizing Women Political Participation in Pakistan’s Legislature: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

The universalization of political participation is at the heart of effective federal prospects. The history of political participation in Pakistan has a mixed history, as the entrenchment of electoral process has not been promising. The focus of this research will remain on the institutional inspection of legislative tiers within Pakistan with particular emphasis on the post-Musharraf Era’s (2008-2018) arrangement of 33% quota allocation to the women. It was speculated that this step will be a step in the right direction. Furthermore, this research will look into the comparative performance indicators of women in both houses, as they have women participation through nominations and elections respectively. Through discursive analysis an attempt will be made to discuss the key legislative debates tabled and deliberated by women. The indicators of effective participation will be drawn from liberal feminist perspective. Likewise, the candidature criteria for women will be checked from three leading political parties in Pakistan, i.e., PML(N), PTI, and PPPP. The successful culmination of this study will enable us to verify proposition in either way that,’ competitive political participation through elections make the case of participative political prospects better for women than that of nomination.’ This case study will not only be significant for studying the role women legislatures but it will have direct bearing on developing democracies as well.