Being a female politician in Pakistan

Madeleine K. Albright, the former US Secretary of State, has wisely said, “Development without democracy is improbable. Democracy without women is impossible.”

Pakistan is no exception. Today, for a political party to be stronger and truly representative, it needs women leaders. A true democracy can only be promoted through a partnership between men and women. In the 1998 census, women were estimated to be almost 50 percent of the total population. That percentage, I am confident, has gone further up. Which is why it is no longer viable or sensible to ignore half of the country’s population.

Yet, we face many barriers to our political participation.

I joined politics in 2008. Admittedly, it was no easy task. I was told, as most women are in Pakistan, to give up or stand down. I didn’t. My male colleagues, and some female ones, seem to be more concerned about my attire and my morals. They were fixated on how firmly my dupatta stayed in place. I remember once, accidentally, the chador draped over my shoulder and head slipped. Someone secretly snapped a picture of me. Later, I came home to find a picture of my uncovered head being circulated on the Internet, accompanied by the vilest of comments. I was younger than and easily hurt.

When the men in the political corridors aren’t putting us down the media is. Reporters would rather focus on what we wear and our marital status rather than our policy positions. But I have lucked out. My party leader, Nawaz Sharif, supported me in carving out a place for myself. He and the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz’s top leadership took me seriously and only then the whispers stopped.

The current government has three ministers of state who are women, and a large number of female parliamentarians.

We as a country have come a long way in bringing women to the forefront in sport, arts, and politics.

Women are leading the PM’s programs about health, education, and information technology.

The Prime Minister’s National Health Program, launched early last year, was envisaged keeping women in mind, especially those from the rural areas. It promises to provide free health care facilities for those who cannot afford it. Most of the people who have stepped up to benefit from this program till now have been women, because only they in Pakistani households are willing to plan ahead for their family’s future.

I would like to end on some advise to young girls who aspire to run for a public office. Don’t get discouraged. There will be days that you are reduced to tears. There will be men who will shame you and try to hold you down. Be persistent. Don’t let anyone tell you that women can’t do politics in Pakistan. We can and we will.

Hameed is a member of the National Assembly.  She tweets as @maizahameed

Note: The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Geo News, The News or the Jang Group