Dr. Saveera Parkash: Buner's Historic Female Candidate

Dr. Saveera Parkash has made history as the first female minority candidate from Buner district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to contest in the upcoming general elections. She recently filed her nomination for the PK-25 seat. A Hindu community member, Saveera is aiming to run on a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) ticket. Her father, Oam Parkash, a recently retired physician, has been a devoted PPP member for over three decades.

Saleem Khan, a local politician from the Qaumi Watan Party, noted that Parkash is the first woman from Buner to enter the electoral race for a general seat. Parkash, who graduated with an MBBS from Abbottabad International Medical College in 2022, also serves as the general secretary of the PPP's women's wing in Buner.

In a conversation with Dawn.com, Parkash expressed her ambition to emulate her father's commitment to serving the impoverished in the area. She filed her nomination on December 23, with a focus on advocating for women's welfare, rights, and safety in Buner. She highlighted the historical neglect and suppression of women, particularly in developmental sectors.

Parkash remains optimistic about receiving the party's backing, referencing the "senior leadership's" encouragement for her candidacy. With her medical background, she emphasizes her innate drive to serve humanity, inspired by witnessing the challenges in government hospitals.

Social media influencer Imran Noshad Khan from Buner, speaking to Dawn.com, praised Parkash's candidacy beyond political lines. He stressed her role in challenging entrenched patriarchal norms and noted the significance of her candidacy, marking the first time in 55 years since Buner's incorporation into Pakistan that a woman is running for office.

This development aligns with the Election Commission of Pakistan's recent policy requiring at least five percent female representation among general seat candidates.