Krishna Kumari, from the Pakistani Hindu minority are who contesting for the upper house of parliament, works in her office in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Picture: AP Photo/Pervez Masih
Islamabad — Pakistan has sworn in the newly elected members of the Senate, including for the first time a woman from the marginalised Hindu minority.
Krishna Kumari who hails from the so-called untouchables — the lowest in the caste system still prevailing in Pakistan and India — defeated a Taliban-linked cleric in the race.
The March 3 vote by national and provincial assemblies chose half of the lawmakers in the 104-member upper house of parliament to six-year terms, replacing those who had completed their terms. The other 52 lawmakers were elected in 2015.
Members of the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, are elected by nationwide vote in Pakistan's two-chamber system.
Later Monday, the Senate is to elect a chairman to replace outgoing Mian Raza Rabbani.
baristabatista on March 12nd, 2018 at 17:06 UTC »
Guys guys Guys!!! This is my country and it makes me soooo proud to see it mentioned in a positive light because of how damn rare it is!!! 😁
quantasmm on March 12nd, 2018 at 16:10 UTC »
the caste system makes me irrationally angry. I don't see how telling people that they're born with fewer rights or privileges is any different than racism. Almost every hindu ive met either hates it or will not defend it. (I've only met hindus who live in America and have had lots of exposure to different ideas.)
Edit: to those who are criticizing the U.S.: please do. This wasn't a dick measuring contest between countries. Our history is full of terrible things, and we have our own elitists. Condemn them, and lets move forward and try to keep our racism, classism, and casteisms in our respective histories the best we can.
Shodan30 on March 12nd, 2018 at 15:49 UTC »
What exactly about her makes her 'untouchable' ?