Saveera Parkash, a Hindu medical doctor, is poised to make history as the first female minority candidate in the upcoming general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district.
The elections to the 16th National Assembly are scheduled to be held on 8 February, 2024.Parkash will compete for the general seat of PK-25 in Buner district.
#Pakistan | In a first, Dr Saveera Parkash, a member of the Hindu community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Buner district in Pakistan, has filed her nomination papers for a general seat in the upcoming general elections in the country.
— DD India (@DDIndialive) December 26, 2023
Dr Saveera Parkash is hopeful of contesting the… pic.twitter.com/08nyk9nEVg
Who is Saveera Parkash?
Saveera Parkash is a medical doctor from the Hindu community. Her father, Oam Parkash a recently retired doctor has been a dedicated member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for the past 35 years. Following in the footsteps of her father, Parkash will contest the elections on a PPP ticket.
Saveera Parkash is a 2022 graduate of Abbottabad International Medical College, she serves as the general secretary of the PPP women’s wing in Buner.
Parkash has expressed her dedication to community well-being, she emphasized her aspiration to contribute to the improvement of women’s conditions, fostering a secure environment, and championing their rights.
Dr Saveera Parkash Becomes First Hindu Woman to Contest Elections in Pakistan
— The Truth International (@ttimagazine) December 26, 2023
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She has also emphasised the historical neglect and suppression of women in the development sector and aims to address these issues if elected.
In an interview with Dawn, Parkash spoke about her aspirations to follow in her father’s footsteps, working for the areas underprivileged. She submitted her nomination papers on 23 December, expressing hope that the senior leadership of the PPP would endorse her candidature.
She emphasised her commitment to “serving humanity is in my blood.” Her dream of becoming an elected legislator stems from her firsthand experiences with poor management and helplessness in government hospitals during her medical career.
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Imran Noshad Khan, a social media influencer hailing from Buner, wholeheartedly endorsed Saveera Parkash, regardless of her political alignment. He praised her for shattering stereotypes entrenched by traditional patriarchy, underscoring the importance of a woman entering the electoral arena in a region that took 55 years since Buner’s merger with Pakistan.
As reported by Dawn, recent amendments by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) mandates a five per cent inclusion of women candidates in general seats.
It is important to note that in 2018, Krishna Kumari Kohli became the first non-Muslim woman to win a women’s reserved seat in Pakistan’s Senate.
