Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Imran's party leads in women representation for Pakistan elections

Even though women make up around 49 per cent of Pakistan’s population, as per the 2017 census, only 839 women out of 17,000 candidates are contesting the February 8 election

Imran's party leads in women representation for Pakistan elections

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which is under the leadership of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has allocated 53 seats to women, the highest number of tickets given to female candidates by any major political party in Pakistan for the elections set to take place on February 8, the media reported on Friday (2).

The beleaguered party, which was stripped of its electoral symbol, a cricket bat, by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in January, has allotted tickets to 53 women candidates, of whom 28 are contesting the elections for the National Assembly constituencies, while 25 are for provincial seats.


As a result of the Supreme Court ruling, the party's candidates will be contesting the election as independents with different election symbols.

Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, which will be contesting its debut elections, has awarded tickets to seven women, which is 7.2 per cent of its total candidates, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan has allotted tickets to 13 women, which is 6.7 per cent of its total candidates.

However, other major political parties have fallen short of giving even five per cent of tickets to women.

For the February 8 election, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has given tickets to 35 women, 11 on National Assembly seats and 24 on provincial seats, which is just 4.5 per cent of its total 779 candidates.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has issued tickets to only 28 women, 12 for National Assembly and 15 for provincial seats, which is just 4.2 per cent of the 668 candidates fielded by the party.

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, a far-right Islamic extremist political party, has allocated only 11 tickets to women, which is the least, making up only 1.5 per cent of its total candidates.

However, of the 11,165 independents in the fray, as many as 513 are women, with the majority of them, 203 women, contesting from Punjab Assembly seats.

Even though women make up around 49 per cent of Pakistan's population, as per the 2017 census, only 839 women out of 17,000 candidates are contesting the February 8 election, which is an abysmal 4.7 per cent.

The electoral laws in Pakistan make it mandatory for political parties to allot five per cent of their tickets to women.

(PTI)

More For You

Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Essex ladybird invasion

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear

Dee-anne Markiewicz / SWNS

Swarms of ladybirds invade Essex coastline amid soaring temperatures

Highlights:

  • Ladybird swarms reported across Essex and Suffolk coastal towns
  • Hot weather likely driving the sudden surge in population
  • Sightings include Point Clear, Shoebury, Clacton and Felixstowe
  • Similar outbreaks occurred in 1976 during another hot UK summer

Sudden surge in ladybird numbers across the southeast

Millions of ladybirds have been spotted swarming towns and villages along the Essex coast, with similar sightings stretching into Suffolk. Residents have reported unusually high numbers of the red and black-spotted insects, particularly near coastal areas, with the recent hot weather believed to be a major contributing factor.

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear, a village near St Osyth in Essex, where the insects could be seen piling on top of each other on driftwood and plants.

Keep ReadingShow less