Role of Political Parties in Political Empowerment of Women in Local Government in KP: A Case Study of District Buner(2014 -2024)

Abstract

This paper reviews the role of political parties in empowering women in local governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) between 2014 and 2024, with a particular focus on Buner. The PTI government enacted the Local Government Act 2013, which reinstated the reserved seats for women at the tehsil and district levels. Despite this, the number of women represented was low, particularly in rural regions such as Buner. The study is qualitative, which entails conducting unstructured interviews with 16 purposely selected respondents, complemented by secondary data in the form of government reports, party documents, academic literature, and media. Thematic analysis revealed that, although opportunities increased on paper due to reforms, socio-cultural aspects and patriarchal norms, as well as low literacy levels, limited the active involvement of women in Buner. The findings suggest that political parties should invest in awareness, education, and support at the family level to achieve true empowerment.