Human Rights Watch has highlighted a concerning gender gap in Pakistan’s voter registration, revealing a significant imbalance with 58.5 million registered women voters compared to 68.5 million men out of a total of 127 million registered voters. This long-standing issue, with 10 million more men registered, raises questions about women’s equal participation in the democratic process.
Past elections have witnessed the effective exclusion of millions of women from voting, orchestrated by collusion among political party officials, local elders, and influential figures. These efforts involved broadcasting messages and physically preventing women from reaching polling stations. Legal challenges to these practices have faced slow progress within the judicial system.
A crucial factor affecting women’s eligibility to vote is the requirement for a Computerized National Identification Card (CNIC). However, many women encounter difficulties obtaining CNIC due to restrictions on movement and barriers to education. The absence of a CNIC also denies women access to vital services and benefits, including government loans and a monthly stipend under the Benazir Income Support Program.
Despite legislative measures in 2017, such as the Elections Act, aiming to address women’s disenfranchisement by stipulating a minimum of 10% women voters in any constituency, experts argue that this modest percentage has not effectively tackled the persistent gender disparity issue.
Pakistan’s constitution allows for the adoption of special provisions to protect women, promoting equality among citizens. Furthermore, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) obligates governments to take measures eliminating discrimination in political and public life, including during elections. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the urgent need for the full and equal participation of women in Pakistan’s democratic processes.