Raising awareness for women voters

AP Published May 6, 2013
An election candidate interacts with women during a door-to-door election campaign held indoors due to a security threat, in Rawalpindi.
An election candidate interacts with women during a door-to-door election campaign held indoors due to a security threat, in Rawalpindi.
Female supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, headed by Pakistan's former cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan, go on a door-to-door election campaign in Rawalpindi.
Female supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, headed by Pakistan's former cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan, go on a door-to-door election campaign in Rawalpindi.
Pakistani villagers work in a field on the outskirts of Jhang Bahtar, near Islamabad. The women in this dusty Pakistani village surrounded by wheat fields and orange trees want better roads, schools where their daughters can get an education and a reliable supply of gas for cooking and heating. For decades not a single one of them has voted in the country's elections, and they aren't likely to during this upcoming vote either -- their men have decided.
Pakistani villagers work in a field on the outskirts of Jhang Bahtar, near Islamabad. The women in this dusty Pakistani village surrounded by wheat fields and orange trees want better roads, schools where their daughters can get an education and a reliable supply of gas for cooking and heating. For decades not a single one of them has voted in the country's elections, and they aren't likely to during this upcoming vote either -- their men have decided.
Ruksana Ali, an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment enlists names of women for the upcoming elections in Mateela village near Sargodha.
Ruksana Ali, an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment enlists names of women for the upcoming elections in Mateela village near Sargodha.
A Pakistani villager listens to an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment lecturing about the benefits of voting in Mateela village.
A Pakistani villager listens to an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment lecturing about the benefits of voting in Mateela village.
Pakistani villagers listen to an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment.
Pakistani villagers listen to an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment.
Ruksana Ali, center, an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment delivers a lecture.
Ruksana Ali, center, an activist from the Association for Gender Awareness & Human Empowerment delivers a lecture.
Noreen Niazi, second from right, sister of Pakistani cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan, interacts with women during a door-to-door election campaign.
Noreen Niazi, second from right, sister of Pakistani cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan, interacts with women during a door-to-door election campaign.

As Pakistan gets set to vote in the upcoming nationwide election that will see a transfer of power from one civilian government to the next -- a first for Pakistan -- women still face an uphill battle to make their voices heard in the political process. - Photos and text by AP

For more, read: In Pakistani town, men have spoken: no women vote

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