People in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district are willing to elect Dr Saveera Parkash, the first Hindu woman in the region to run for a general seat of the provincial assembly, as their member provincial assembly (MNA), says her father.

Dr Saveera Parkash filed her nomination papers for PK-25 constituency on Saturday, becoming the first woman to contest a general seat in the district. She is also the first minority woman to do so.

Sameera, 25, is an MBBS graduate and has completed her house job but instead of practising medicine, she is preparing to compete in the civil service exam.

Indian media has shown keen interest in her becoming a candidate in the 2024 general election in Pakistan.

Dr Oam Parkash, Saveera’s father, spoke to Aaj News on Tuesday and said that his daughter had filed the nomination papers on the instruction from the top leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). She would surely receive the party ticket, he said adding that Saveera was also a candidate on one of the seats reserved for the minorities.

Dr Oam Parkash, who is also an old member of the PPP, said that Saveera will launch her election campaign after attending the death anniversary event of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated on December 27, 2007.

He concurred that contesting a general seat from the conservative Buner district was difficult for any woman let alone for a woman from the minority community.

However, he said that local residents had shown a positive response towards Saveera’s nomination and were willing to elect her as their MPA.

“People of Buner are with us. They have deep respect for minorities and women and their response [towards Saveera’s nomination] have been positive. I am sure she will win,” he said.