Intra-Party Consultation on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Political Party Frameworks Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian

Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Secretary General PPPP, and Former Chairman, Senate of Pakistan sharing the stage with Dr. Syeda Shahida Rehmani, MNA and Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, Senior Leaders of PPPP and Former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms Salma Hassan, Project Focal Person, Pakistan Legislative, Electoral, Digital Governance and Empowerment (PLEDGE), UNDP with Mr. Naeem Mirza, Executive Director, Aurat Foundation during an Intra-Party Consultation organized by Auart Foundation held on 10 September 2026 in Islamabad. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Ms. Mumtaz Mughal moderated the Intra-Party Consultation and outlined its objectives. She explained that the consultation was designed to undertake a participatory review of the political party’s Constitution, identify gaps and opportunities within its existing framework, and explore measures to strengthen gender-responsive, inclusive and democratic internal party governance. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Mr. Naeem Mirza, Executive Director, Aurat Foundation, paid tribute to Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and acknowledged her historic contribution to advancing women’s political participation and leadership in Pakistan. He highlighted AF’s longstanding engagement with political parties and its sustained efforts to promote women’s effective and meaningful participation in political processes and decision-making. He further outlined key areas through which political parties can mainstream gender equality and women’s inclusion within their leadership and decision-making structures, including strengthening institutional mechanisms, creating enabling spaces for women’s political participation, and ensuring women’s representation across party structures. He emphasized that greater inclusion of women in political leadership is essential for strengthening representative, responsive and inclusive democratic institutions. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Ms. Salma Hassan, Project Focal Person, Pakistan Legislative, Electoral, Digital Governance and Empowerment (PLEDGE), UNDP, shared key highlights of the project, which seeks to strengthen democratic governance, inclusive political participation and institutional capacity in Pakistan. She highlighted the project’s focus on promoting women’s meaningful political participation, gender equality, social inclusion and stronger democratic institutions, with particular emphasis on fostering more inclusive and responsive political processes. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari, Secretary General of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), reaffirmed the party’s commitment to strengthening gender and social inclusion in its Constitution. He presented the Constitution of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians during an Intra-Party Consultation held on 10 September 2026 in Islamabad. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

In his presentation, he outlined the Constitution as the principal framework governing the party’s organisational structure, internal processes, and political functioning. The Constitution sets out provisions relating to the party’s identity, aims and objectives, membership, rights and responsibilities of members, organisational discipline, internal democratic processes, roles and responsibilities of office bearers, party councils, internal elections, electoral participation, candidate selection, and constitutional amendments.

He appreciated Aurat Foundation for undertaking this important initiative and emphasised that such consultations can contribute to making the party’s constitutional framework more inclusive. He assured that the party leadership would give serious consideration to the recommendations emerging from the consultation.

Dr. Syeda Shahida Rehmani, MNA and Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, highlighted the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians’ (PPPP) longstanding initiatives and commitment to advancing gender equality and social inclusion. She emphasised that PPPP has consistently demonstrated leadership in translating its commitment to gender equality and social inclusion into practical action.  She stressed the need to review and update the Party Constitution in light of evolving social and political realities and emerging global good practices. She highlighted the importance of examining concrete mechanisms through which women can be meaningfully represented in party decision-making forums and of identifying appropriate modalities and institutional frameworks to increase women’s representation on general seats. She also called for greater attention to the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in party leadership and decision-making structures, ensuring that the party’s organisational and constitutional frameworks promote broader and more meaningful participation. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, Senior Leader of PPPP and former Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, appreciated Aurat Foundation for convening the Intra-Party Consultation and providing an important platform for dialogue on strengthening democratic and inclusive practices within political parties. He emphasized the importance of continued engagement between political leadership and civil society to promote meaningful participation of women and other underrepresented groups in political and decision-making processes. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Ms. Asia Jahangir Khan, Former Minister, PPPP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, represented the party’s position and reaffirmed that the PPPP has consistently championed the political, social and economic rights of women, minorities, youth, and other marginalised and underrepresented groups. She highlighted the party’s longstanding commitment to advancing equality, inclusion, and meaningful participation across political and social spheres. She further noted that the party’s constitutional and policy frameworks must continue to evolve in step with the aspirations of these groups, ensuring that inclusion remains embedded in both principle and practice. Ms. Khan reiterated the party leadership’s resolve to translate these commitments into concrete organisational reforms going forward. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Mr. Ali Imran, Expert on Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, facilitated a session on Gender Inclusion in Decision-Making, focusing on equal participation and representation, safe and respectful political spaces, non-discrimination, and effective accountability mechanisms to strengthen women’s meaningful participation and leadership within political parties during the Consultation. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

During the Consultation, participants sharing their recommendations on Decision-Making, focusing on equal participation and representation, safe and respectful political spaces, non-discrimination, and effective accountability mechanisms. The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.

Group photograph of participants at the Intra-Party Consultation organized by Aurat Foundation on 10 September in Islamabad, with the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP). The consultation was organized by Aurat Foundation under the EU-supported Pakistan Women Leaders project, a joint initiative of UNDP and UN Women.