Asma Shirazi (right), renowned Pakistani TV journalist, has won many international awards.

Pakistani Journalist Asma Shirazi became a target of harsh online harassment after interviewing the former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. She defended herself bravely.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set for his third term as the country’s prime minister. The economy is crippled, the people unhappy and a huge energy deficit reigns in the country. Islamic extremism has tarnished the image of the country in the world. Will Sharif be able to overcome the daunting tasks that lay in front of him? Will he able to do justice to the expectations of the women in the Pakistani society? Will he able to really bring about a change in Pakistan? WTO reporter Roma Rajpal asked five Pakistani women from varied backgrounds about their expectations.

The sentence,  “Siyasut main barabri mera haq” means, equality in politics is my right. In Pakistan, when it comes to women, politics and voting, the picture looks bleak. For instance according to this report by FAFEN (Fair and Free Election Network), a gender analysis was conducted, revealing startling results. Out of a total number of 4,671 candidates contesting for National Assembly seats in the 2013 elections in Pakistan, there are only 161 women contesting for the elections – or just 3.5% of the candidates are female! An alarmingly low number.

The twenty-first century described the rise of a new dawn for women in our part of the world. They were seen leaving their mark in various professional fields which were considered to be chiefly male dominated and they excelled. They also keenly participated in politics, another arena where men rule the roost, and proved their worth – a testimony of positive change in the mindsets of the people at large.