Women's Role in Pakistan's Provincial Legislature The case of Punjab: 1947 - 1999

Abstract

Before Independence, the parliament, or the central legislature, in the South Asian Subcontinent, developed as an institution in the second half of the nineteenth century. Under the Indian Councils Act of 1861, the Governor-General's Council was reconstituted for legislative purposes by the inclusion of 6-12 additional members, all selected by the Governor General. The Indians could now become members of the Council but they were nominated by t he Governor General. About thil1y years later, the British Government passed the India Councils Act of 1892, which introduced the principle of representation and elections. The Legislative Council was now expanded to 16 members, some of them were nominated and the others were elected on the recommendations of local bodies, municipalities corporations, universities, and chambers of commerce. Then, the Government of India Act of 1909 again increased the total strength of the Legislative Council to 60. 1 A major part of it was elected directly and the rest indirectly. In the case of direct elections, the franchise was restricted based on high property and educational qualifications. However, in some of the constituencies, the number of voters did not exceed 9-10. Even this franchise was extended only to the male population. The women were denied this right under the 1909 Act. There was hardly any protest at the time against this discrimination from any quarter. By the time the Act of 1909 was due for review and new package of reforms was promised, a section of women had become conscious of the importance of constitutional reforms and sought to find a place for themselves under the proposed reforms. Numerous factors brought about this change in their outlook. Firstly, education among women contributed to his change .