Abstract
Women’s political participation is sine qua non of women’s empowerment
movement. Pakistan is a developing democracy where citizens are given equal
political rights without any gender discrimination. The Provincial Assembly of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa elected a female as Deputy Speaker for the first time. Report of various
organizations on 2013 general elections declared that women’s participation in
politics have strengthened its roots in Pakistan. Mardan is the 19th largest city of
Pakistan and 2nd most populous district of KP Province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the
most affected province of Pakistan in the war against global terrorism nevertheless in
the 2013 general elections, the province generally and district Mardan especially
witnessed increase in women’s political participation. An encouraging number of
women casted their votes, contested election, and launched elections campaigns. The
research is qualitative and is based on primary and secondary sources. The study
explores the changing trends of women’s politics in Mardan.
