PPP Raises Alarm Over 10 Million Missing Women in Electoral Rolls

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has raised concerns about the omission of approximately 10 million women from the country's electoral rolls, prompting a call for swift corrective actions. Malaika Raza, the General Secretary of PPP's Human Rights Cell, expressed these apprehensions and urged immediate attention to this pressing matter.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has pointed out that over 10 million women lack Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), rendering them disenfranchised. While the ECP reports a slight improvement compared to the last elections when 11 million women faced disenfranchisement due to the absence of CNICs, the situation remains deeply concerning.

In response, Malaika Raza called upon the Election Commission, the caretaker government, and all political parties to collaborate in addressing this issue. She stressed the necessity of formulating a concrete policy to facilitate the registration of these disenfranchised women, enabling their participation in the democratic process.

Many of these women, as revealed, lack fundamental identification documents, including identity cards and even bank accounts. This absence of official identification significantly hampers their overall growth and development, as it restricts their access to essential services and opportunities. By prioritizing the issuance of identity cards and enhancing financial inclusion, a crucial step can be taken to ensure that every woman's voice is heard and counted in upcoming elections.

Raza underscored the importance of collective efforts in fostering a more inclusive society, stating, "We cannot ignore the fact that millions of women are being denied their right to vote due to bureaucratic barriers and a lack of assistance. It is the responsibility of the government, Election Commission, and political parties to work together to rectify this issue and ensure that no woman is left behind."

PPP's Human Rights Cell stands firmly behind measures to address this critical issue and calls upon relevant authorities to take immediate action. The empowerment of these women should be prioritized by assisting them in obtaining the necessary identification documents and facilitating their registration on the electoral rolls, Raza emphasized. It is an essential step towards ensuring that these women are not only recognized as equal citizens but also actively participate in shaping the nation's future through the democratic process.