Saveera Parkash is set to be the first woman candidate from the minority Hindu community in Pakistan to stand in the upcoming general elections from the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A doctor by profession, Parkash belongs to the Pakistani-Hindu community and submitted her nomination papers for the general seat of PK-25 on December 23, reported news agency IANS citing Dawn.
General elections are scheduled to be held in Pakistan on February 8, next year, to elect the members of the 16th National Assembly. According to IANS, the Election Commission of Pakistan mandates at least a 5 per cent representation of women candidates on general seats.
Who Is Saveera Parkash?
Saveera Prakash is currently serving as the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) women's wing general secretary in the district and hopes to fight the upcoming elections on the party's ticket. She completed her MBBS in 2022 from Abbottabad International Medical College. According to the report, her father Oam Parkash, a recently retired doctor, had been an active member of the party for the past 35 years.
While talking to Dawn, Prakash said that "serving humanity is in my blood" due to her medical background, reported IANS. Parkash added that she dreamt of becoming an elected legislator after she experienced poor management and helplessness in government hospitals as a doctor. She wishes to follow in the footsteps of her father in working for the area’s poor, as per the Dawn, quoted the IANS report.
Parkash was endorsed by social media influencer Imran Noshad Khan who wrote on X: "Dr Saveera Parkash is the first female candidate from Buner, marking a historic moment as women have not previously been involved in electoral politics in the region".
"I wholeheartedly support her in breaking stereotypes," he added.
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