From Policy to Practice: Examining the Effectiveness of the Elections Act 2017 on Women’s Political Participation in Lower Dir

Abstract

Women’s political participation has long been a topic of discussion within global conversations on gender equality and democratic inclusion, as reflected in international frameworks such as CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals. As a signatory to these commitments, Pakistan has implemented several policy measures to increase women’s representation in its political institutions. This study critically examines the Elections Act 2017 as a policy tool intended to turn these commitments into action, focusing on its effectiveness in changing the gendered political landscape of Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of Pakistan’s most traditionally patriarchal districts. Rooted in liberal democratic theory and feminist perspectives on political participation, this qualitative research employs an ethnographic approach to examine how legal reforms intersect with social and cultural barriers. Data were collected through primary and secondary sources, including field observations during the 2018 general elections and unstructured interviews with local respondents. The results show that cultural barriers, often seen as unchangeable obstacles to women’s emancipation, have been strategically maintained by state and institutional actors to justify exclusionary practices. However, the analysis indicates that these barriers are not insurmountable; rather, they can be effectively addressed through strong, consistent, and context-specific implementation of progressive laws. The study concludes that while the Elections Act 2017 marks an important legislative step forward, its potential for transformation depends on active engagement by district electoral institutions, whose focus should shift from merely increasing numbers to ensuring meaningful, qualitative participation by women in politics.