NE Watch Desk
In Pakistan, as General Elections are
approaching, a Hindu woman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district has filed her
nomination papers. In this first of its kind move, she will be contesting for a
general seat in the upcoming polls scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024, to
elect the members of the 16th National Assembly.
Belonging to the Hindu community, Saveera
Parkash has officially submitted her nomination papers for the general seat of
PK-25 in Buner district and is positive about contesting the elections on a
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ticket, reported Dawn.
She followed in the footsteps of her
father Oam Parkash, who recently retired from the medical profession as a doctor.
He had been a dedicated member of the PPP for the past 35 years.
Saleem Khan, who is a local politician and
affiliated with the Qaumi Watan Party, pinpointed that Parkash is the first
woman from Buner to submit nomination papers for the upcoming elections on a
general seat.
Parkash’s move is even endorsed unequivocally
by Buner’s social media influencer Imran Noshad Khan, not being mindful of her
political affiliation.
Khan appreciated her for breaking
stereotypes perpetuated by traditional patriarchy, stressing upon the importance
of a woman stepping ahead to contest polls in a region where it took 55 years
since Buner merged with Pakistan.
Know About Saveera Parkash
- She graduated from Abbottabad
International Medical College in 2022 - Working as the general secretary of the
PPP women’s wing in Buner - Committed to the welfare of the
community - Resolute to work for the betterment of
women - Wants to ensure a safe environment
- Advocating for women’s rights
- Rightly critical about the historical
neglect and suppression of women in the development sector - Aims to address these issues if elected
- Desires to work for the area’s
underprivileged.
Saveera Parkash, exuding optimism to
gain support from the PPP’s senior leadership, submitted her nomination papers
on December 23. With a background in medicine, she
showed her determination to “serving humanity” as it is in her “blood.”
Reasons Behind Her Dream
Saveera Parkash nurtured her dream of
becoming an elected legislator after she suffered firsthand experiences with
poor management as well as helplessness in government hospitals during her
medical career.
As per reports, amendments by the
Election Commission of Pakistan or ECP few time ago mandate a five per cent addition
of women candidates in general seats.
