Women’s Political Participation In Pakistan

This paper intends to review and analyze varying level of women’s participation in politics at different periods of time in political history of Pakistan and its impact on the status of women in the country. First, the paper focuses on historical trajectory of women’s marginal political participation in past and recently increased representation in formal political institutions through enhanced political quotas for women introduced from national to local level. Besides the feminist motives, it also identifies the “non-feminist motives” or “competing masculine interests” working behind this increased entry of women in the male domain of political sphere. Second, it explores and compares the impacts of women’s absence from or recent presence in political institutions on different aspects of society (especially law to protect women). The basic argument is that the increased women’s participation has the potential to enlarge public space for women and give them voice in legislative appropriation. Thus, this increased participation helps in creating a relatively more egalitarian and democratic society. Finally, the paper explores future prospects of women’s political participation at different levels along with recommendations to improve state policies in this regard.