dbo:abstract
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- Since Pakistan's independence on 14 August 1947, women have been active participants in parliamentary politics. Their representation remained low in the first and second Constituent Assemblies, however the amendments to the Constitution of Pakistan paved way for their increased participation in the parliament. Besides, the progressive laws helped improve their participation in legislative and executive positions over the years. Since 2002, women politicians have notable representation in the federal as well as provincial assemblies. Women as equal citizen of Pakistan are free to contest general elections and to be elected to any public office at the national, provincial and local levels without any discrimination. They have a liberty to exercise their right to vote in all elections, general or by-polls, which they could since independence and were reprised in the 1956 constitution. They can run for elections directly as well as through women’s reserved quota. There is no legal compulsion on women to hold any highest public office. Pakistan has hosted women as the Prime Minister, Federal Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Leader of the Opposition, etc. (en)
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