POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN PAKISTAN AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL: A CASE STUDY IN MUSHARRAF ERA

Abstract

This research focuses on how women in Pakistan became politically empowered at the local level during Musharraf’s era. It looks at how much influence women had in decision-making within grassroots institutions like Union Councils and Tehsil Municipal Administrations. The study uses case studies and qualitative methods, including analyzing documents and scientific articles, to understand women’s real experiences in local politics. One key finding is that during Musharraf’s time, women made important progress in gaining political power. A major reason for this progress was the introduction of special reserved seats for women in local government bodies. These seats were created to guarantee women’s participation and make sure they had a say in governing their communities. This approach helped open doors for women to engage more actively in political matters, even though they faced various challenges along the way. By exploring both opportunities and obstacles women encountered, this study adds valuable insights to the existing research on women’s political empowerment in Pakistan, especially in the context of the Musharraf period. It highlights how institutional changes created environments where women could gradually increase their role in politics at the grassroots level.