Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emerged victorious in the by-election in PK-95, Lower Dir-II. However the talking point from yesterday’s election is sadly not the JI victory but the apathy shown by JI towards women voters not being allowed to vote. JI’s candidate Izazul Mulk Afkari edged out Haji Bahadur Khan of Awami National Party (ANP) by claiming 18,711 votes compared to Bahadur’s 16,403. Out of the aggregate 35114 votes bagged by the top two candidates none of the vote was from a woman.
When asked about women being stopped from using their right to vote JI Ameer Sirajul Haq casually commented that women of Dir have better things to do than casting votes. Such a statement coming from a respected leader like Sirajul Haq is sad indeed. The JI held a women’s convention in Karachi recently in preparation for the NA-246 contest, which the party eventually lost. However when it comes to Dir, the JI leader conveniently said that women have better things to do than vote. In any civilized society where there is rule of law such an election would have been declared void. But it is an irony that not only women were barred from voting but such non serious statements are being issued to defend the inexplicable action of stopping women from using their democratic. What is even sadder is that the non participation of women is being defended by a religious party that has previously talked about treating men and women equally. The unfortunate event in Dir is not only against the basic human rights and democratic principles but also against teachings of Islam.
I have always maintained that no nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with men. – Jinnah