In a groundbreaking development, a Hindu woman from the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan has filed her nomination papers for a general seat in the upcoming elections.
The move, as reported by Dawn, marks the first instance of a Hindu woman entering the political arena in the region.
It's worth mentioning that Pakistan is set to hold general elections for the 16th National Assembly members on February 8, 2024.
The woman's name is Savera Prakash, and she has officially filed her nomination papers for the general seat of PK-25 in the Buner district.
Savera Prakash, a member of the Hindu community, is optimistic about contesting elections on the ticket of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), following in the footsteps of his father, Om Prakash. The 35-year-old Savera Prakash's father, Om Prakash, recently retired. He served as a dedicated member of the PPP and is a retired doctor.
Savera Prakash is a doctor by profession as reported by Dawn on Monday. According to local politician Salim Khan affiliated with the Qaumi Watan Party, Savera Prakash is the first Hindu woman to submit her nomination papers for the upcoming general elections on a general seat from Buner.
A graduate of Abbottabad International Medical College in 2022, Savera is currently serving as the General Secretary of the PPP Women's Wing in Buner.
Demonstrating her commitment to the welfare of the community, she has expressed her desire to work towards the betterment of women, ensuring a secure environment, and advocating for their rights.
In an interview with Dawn, Savera Prakash expressed her aspirations to work for the marginalized, following in her father's footsteps. She discussed her desire to address the issues of the neglected in the region.
On December 23, she submitted her nomination papers, expressing hope that the senior leadership of the PPP would support her candidacy. Savera highlighted historic neglect and oppression of women in the development sector and emphasized that, if elected, her goal is to address these issues.
Savera Prakash, with a medical background, emphasized that "service to humanity runs in my blood." Her dream of becoming an elected legislator stems from her firsthand experiences of poor management and negligence in government hospitals during her medical career.
Despite the societal norms, social media influencer Imran Noshad Khan from Buner expressed heartfelt support for Savera Prakash's political commitment, praising her for breaking traditional patriarchy and highlighting the significance of a woman leading in an area that took 55 years to merge with Pakistan, as reported by Dawn.
It is noteworthy that, according to Dawn's report, recent amendments by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) make it mandatory to include five per cent of female candidates on general seats in the upcoming elections.
