In a first, a Hindu woman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district has filed her nomination papers for a general seat in the upcoming polls in Pakistan, Dawn reported.
The general election is scheduled for February 8 to elect the members of the 16th National Assembly. Saveera Parkash has officially submitted her nomination papers for the general seat of PK-25 in Buner district.
A member of the Hindu community, Parkash is optimistic about contesting the elections on a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ticket, following in the footsteps of her father, Om Parkash, a recently retired doctor and a dedicated member of the PPP for 35 years.
A local politician, Saleem Khan, who is affiliated with the Qaumi Watan Party, noted that Parkash is the first woman from Buner to submit nomination papers for the upcoming election on a general seat, as reported by Dawn on Monday.
Parkash, a 2022 graduate of Abbottabad International Medical College, serves as the general secretary of the PPP women’s wing in Buner. Expressing her commitment to the welfare of the community, she highlighted her desire to work for the betterment of women, ensuring a safe environment and advocating for their rights.
She also emphasised the neglect and suppression of women in the development sector and aims to address these issues if elected. Parkash, with a background in medicine, emphasised that her commitment to “serving humanity is in my blood”. Her dream of becoming an elected legislator stems from her firsthand experiences with poor management and helplessness in government hospitals during her medical career.
Recent amendments by the Election Commission of Pakistan mandate a five per cent inclusion of women candidates in general seats, Dawn reported.
