1.

The Speaker welcomed the participants and noted the presence of women
senators, who were attending the meeting for the first time. She reiterated her
pledge to take the Caucus to the provincial level as well.
2. The Speaker highlighted the fact that the Caucus had taken up two vital issues,
namely the state of women policing and the burn victims. Now the Caucus
was taking up yet another important issue of the status of registration of
women in Pakistan.
3. The Speaker then formally launched the first Report of the WPC on the State
of Women Policing in Pakistan. She said that the Report was based on the
observations and recommendations of all the Caucus Members.
4. Shery Rehman MNA took the floor and pointed that today’s newspapers had
criticised the women parliamentarians for not raising voice in support of
women in distress, with particular reference to Swat flogging and harassment.
She said that WPC is an excellent forum to take up these issues and ensure a
strong condemnation in this regard.
5. The Speaker informed that the Caucus had already passed a resolution to
highlight the plight of Women and Children in Swat. She pointed to the fact
that Caucus surely provided an opportunity to the members to bring up such
issues. However, the Caucus is only a recommendatory body.
6. Begum Attiya Inayatuallh added her concern that she wanted to submit an
adjournment motion on the issue but was told that a similar motion had
already been submitted by Shery Rehman. She suggested that such a motion
should be Caucus sponsored.
7. The Speaker then offered the floor to Mr. Mazhar Laghair, representative of
Aurat Foundation to start his presentation on the Registration of Women in
Pakistan. The same is attached as Annex-I
8. This was followed by the presentation from NADRA’s Deputy Chairman Mr.
Nadeem Malik. The same is attached as Annex-II
9. The last presentation was by Syed Sher Afghan, the Joint Secretary, Election
Commission of Pakistan. He started by replying to some issues raised by the
representatives of Aurat Foundation.
a. No woman is barred to get the right of vote on the basis of having no
property
b. On the instructions of the Supreme Court, a new list was issued which no
more makes the NADRA’s computerized NIC as a pre-requisite to get
vote.
c. The presentation is attached as Annex III
10. Mr. Nadeem Malik clarified that NADRA was fully supportive of any efforts
to improve the voter lists.
11. Farzana Raja, Chiarperson BISP congratulated the Speaker for picking vital
issues pertaining to women. She said the WPC condemns any act of
discrimination against women. She informed that through BISP more than 35
lakh women had been provided support. This shows that the present
government’s initiatives were substantive and action oriented in respect of
women and not mere lip-service. She also condemned the actions of some
parties who were making hindrances in getting women registered. This step is
 in fact even un-Islamic since if one does not possess NICs, he or she cannot
get a passport and without which one cannot proceed for Haj, Ummrah or
even seeking share in property.
12. The Speaker praised the efforts of BISP, particularly its Chairperson Farzana
Raja, for making the programme so successful that now women registration
was on the rise. She narrated her own experiences as more and more families
are now eager to get their women registered.
13. Senator Fauzia Fakharuzzaman referred to the acute poverty of her
constituency and inquired if BISP would also cater to her area. She was
informed that the programme was for all-over Pakistan.
14. Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan praised the efforts of the Speaker in providing a
strong platform to women parliamentarians. She referred to the cultural
barriers in the registration of women. She suggested that NADRA should
dedicate some registration booths as “women specific” so as to encourage
women to get registered.
15. She also suggested that the Caucus should invite each ministry to give
briefing on its programmes on women
16. Mrs. Farzana Ghani suggested that BISP should link the programme to voter’s
registration. She also said that women parliamentarians should be facilitated
by the centre to work in coordination with provinces.
17. Bushra Rehman said that women volunteers must be encouraged in
conducting door-to-door campaign for women registration. She asked about
the procedure for registering the aliens in Pakistan and how were they getting
the NIC and passport.
18. Senator Surraiya Ameeruddin informed that in Baluchistan usually the voters
lists do not carry the name women but indicate them as “Zoja No. 1, Zoja No.
2 etc”. This must be changed.
19. NADRA official told that NADRA does not recognise this pattern and to get a
CNIC, it’s mandatory to provide specific name and reference.
20. Justice Fakhar-un-nisa Khokhar referred to the presentation of the Election
Commission in which it had been indicated that many local chieftains barred
women from registering. This is against the constitution and so the relevant
laws must be invoked to punish such culprits.
21. Saima Bharmwana said that it has been observed that a male presiding officer
is placed on women polling booths who tries to manipulate results, harass
women voters and tries to hinder the process.
22. Dr. Atiya Inayatullah …….
23. Fiza Junejo commended the efforts of the Speaker in organising the Caucus
and also lauded the work of Farzana Raja.
24. Farahnaz Isphani praised the pace of registration by NADRA and asked what
immediate steps NADRA and Election Commission were taking to further
enhance the registration of women.
25. The Joint Secretary of Election Commission informed that in a recent meeting
between the President and the Chief Election Commissioner
26. Begum Belum Hasnain ….
27. Jamila Gilani asked ….
28. Tasneem Siddiqui
29. Suraya Asghar said that she had arranged mobile registration van for her
constituency. But it was sent only for one day.
30. Shahnaz Saleem complained that NADRA had delayed the registration in her
constituency.
31. Parveen Masood Bhatti said that
32. Begum Tahira referred that in many cases it was found