Dr Saveera Parkash, A Pakistani Hindu, Is First Minority Candidate To Contest Buner General Election: Report

Dr Saveera Parkash, who completed her MBBS in 2022 from Abbottabad International Medical College, serves as the PPP women wing general secretary in Buner, according to Dawn.

Dr Saveera Parkash submitted her nomination papers on December 23. ( Image Source :X/@ImranNoshad )

Saveera Parkash, a medical doctor from the Hindu community, is all set to become the first woman minority candidate in the general elections to be held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district. She recently filed her nomination for the PK-25 seat, news daily Dawn reported on Monday. Her father, Oam Parkash is a retired doctor who has been an active member of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for 35 years, the report said. Saveera, who completed her MBBS in 2022 from Abbottabad International Medical College, serves as the PPP women wing general secretary in Buner, according to Dawn.

Quoting local politician Saleem Khan of the Qaumi Watan Party, the report said Parkash is the first woman from Buner to contest the general elections. She told Dawn.com that she wanted to continue her father's legacy, focusing on helping the poor and advocating for women's rights and welfare. She submitted her nomination papers on Friday, December 23.

Parkash said it was the “senior leadership” of PPP that had requested her father to let her contest the election.

'Serving Humanity Is In My Blood'

Dr Saveera Parkash sees her medical career as a foundation for her dedication to public service, as she said she wanted to become an elected legislator after experiencing "poor management and helplessness in government hospitals as a doctor".

“Serving humanity is in my blood,” she was quoted as saying. 

Local social media influencer Imran Noshad Khan "wholeheartedly" endorsed her candidature, and told Dawn.com Parkash was “breaking stereotypes perpetuated by traditional patriarchy”.

After Buner was integrated into Pakistan, Khan said, it took 55 years for a woman to emerge as an election candidate. 

He also posted a message on X extending his support.

Dr. Saveera Parkash, the first-ever female candidate and from a religious ethnic minority, is running for elections in Buner Pk25 on the @PPP_Org ticket. I wholeheartedly support her in breaking stereotypes.@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/YZEPjIrDZY

— Imran Noshad Khan (@ImranNoshad) December 25, 2023

The Election Commission of Pakistan mandates at least a 5 percent representation of women candidates on general seats. The elections are slated to be held on February 8. Earlier this month, the ECP released the election schedule.

#ECP pic.twitter.com/ZbgHMoXKu5

— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) December 15, 2023