45-year-old Badam Zari is preparing lunch for her and her husband. She’s a housewife and her husband is a school principal.
Zari’s black scarf covers most of her face; all you can see are her eyes.
“I watch the situation in my country on TV deteriorate every day. I decided to run for election, although I don’t have any qualifications.”
She will be the first tribal woman to run for parliament.
She can’t read or write but under Pakistani law it’s not a problem.
“My husband told me that there is no need for qualifications, because I have my intelligence. I have the willingness to serve both the men and women from my area and my country, better than others if I’m given the chance.”
Zari is running as an independent candidate from Bajaur in the Federally Administered Tribal Area.
Bajaur is known as a stronghold for the Afghan Taliban, Al Qaeda and other Pakistani militant groups; and a battleground between the army and insurgents.
Another tribal woman running for the same seat has withdrawn her candidacy after receiving threats from the Taliban.
“My aim and mission is to work for peace in my area, country and the entire world,” Zari says. “I want peace and prosperity to prevail everywhere in the world and I expect my fellow countrymen and the international community to support me to achieve my goal.”
Her husband, Sultan Khan, supports Zari’s decision to run for parliament. As an educated man, he wants to see reforms to Pakistani society.
“Badam Zari always advocates for the rights of deprived people, therefore I support her. Initially, our plan was to raise awareness of the rights of deprived men and women and the election was not our target.. but it is a means to achieving our aims. Later, we noticed during our election campaigning, that people are deprived of basic rights like education, health and means of communication like roads. And we will raise these issues at every opportunity, whether the powerful hear us or not.”
Pakistan’s tribal area is an ultra conservative region, where women are uneducated and not allowed to leave home without their husbands or a male chaperone.
According to a popular Pasthu saying ‘woman either live inside a home or a grave’.
But Zari promises to become a voice for women.
“I myself am a woman and I have a better understanding of the issues and problems facing women in the area, so I would do better job,” she assures.
“I am uneducated but I know the importance of education so I’ll focus on the education and health of women in the area if I get elected. I don’t have children but I consider all young people from this area as my children, and will do my level best for a better future and successful life for them.”
Other candidates have started their campaigns by putting up posters and billboards all across the city. But Zari is poor and can’t afford her own campaign. So she goes door to door to convince people to vote for her.
She’s been lucky to enlist the help of 22-year-old Javed Khan who works at a medicine store.
He’s one of Zari’s keenest supporters and has started campaigning for her.
He tries to convince anyone that visits his shop to vote for Zari.
“Women will get their rights and will know about their rights if Badam Zari wins the election. We have elected men for many years but nothing has changed. They have done nothing for peace in the area and there is no change in our lives. We’d like to give Badam Zari a chance this time.”
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There are 1.8 million people in Bajaur, and nearly 70 thousand of them are women.
According to the constitution, 70 parliamentary seats are reserved for women and religious minorities – but none specifically for tribal women.
“We are a democratic people and appreciate Badam Zari’s decision to run for election,” says Aurangzeb Inqelabi, President of the ruling Pakistan People’s party.
“But being from a tribal minority, I strongly condemn her decision to run for the election. It is not a suitable time for her to run or to win the election. She can’t come out of the house and it’ll be difficult for her to present her manifesto or to ask people to vote for her, so I wonder how she’ll get votes.”
Taliban militants have warned that they would attack any political campaigns that they disagree with.
So far Zari hasn’t received any direct threats but her ideas on education and women’s rights make her a target.
But Zari isn’t deterred....
“I’m running for election with a passion, with a clean heart and a clear conscience. I haven’t done anything wrong so I don’t feel threatened or afraid of anyone.”
