Editing Peshawar (section)

=== Politics ===
Peshawar has historically served as the political centre of the region, and is currently the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The city and province have been historically regarded to be strongholds of the [[Awami National Party]] – a secular [[Socialism in Pakistan|left-wing]] and moderate-nationalist party.<ref name="Rug Pandits, Yasir">{{cite web |last1=Sheikh |first1=Yasir |title=Areas of political influence in Pakistan: right-wing vs left-wing |url=http://rugpundits.com/2012/11/05/areas-of-political-influence-in-pakistan-right-wing-vs-left-wing/ |website=rugpundits.com |publisher=Rug Pandits, Yasir |access-date=29 May 2015 |location=Karachi, Sindh |date=5 November 2012 |archive-date=30 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530024013/http://rugpundits.com/2012/11/05/areas-of-political-influence-in-pakistan-right-wing-vs-left-wing/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rug Pandits, Yasir Sheikh">{{cite web |last1=Sheikh |first1=Yasir |title=Political spectrum of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) – Part I: ANP, PPP & MMA |url=http://rugpundits.com/2013/02/09/political-spectrum-of-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-kp-part-i-anp-ppp-mma/. |website=rugpundits.com |publisher=Rug Pandits, Yasir Sheikh |access-date=29 May 2015 |location=Islamabad |date=9 February 2013 |archive-date=30 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530053654/http://rugpundits.com/2013/02/09/political-spectrum-of-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-kp-part-i-anp-ppp-mma/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] had also enjoyed considerable support in the province due to its [[Socialism in Pakistan|socialist agenda]].<ref name="Rug Pandits, Yasir" />

Despite being a centre for leftist politics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar is still generally known throughout Pakistan for its social conservatism.<ref name="Rakodi">{{cite book |editor1-last=Rakodi |editor1-first=Carole |title=Religion, Religious Organisations and Development: Scrutinising Religious Perceptions and Organisations |date=4 April 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-91247-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u1PhCwAAQBAJ&q=peshawar+liberal+conservative&pg=PA55 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-date=7 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307070310/https://books.google.com/books?id=u1PhCwAAQBAJ&q=peshawar+liberal+conservative&pg=PA55 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sunni Muslims in the city are regarded to be socially conservative,<ref name="Rakodi" /> while the city's Shia population is considered to be more socially liberal.<ref name="Rakodi" />

A plurality of voters in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province, of which Peshawar is the capital, elected one of Pakistan's only religiously based provincial governments during the period of military dictatorship of [[Pervez Musharraf]]. A ground-swell of anti-American sentiment after the 2001 [[United States invasion of Afghanistan]] contributed to the Islamist coalition's victory.<ref name="Time" />

The Islamists introduced a range of social restrictions following the election of the Islamist [[Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal]] coalition in 2002, though Islamic [[Shariah]] law was never fully enacted.<ref name="Time" /> Restrictions on public musical performances were introduced, as well as a ban prohibiting music to be played in any public places, including on public transportation – which lead to the creation of a thriving underground music scene in Peshawar.<ref name="Tirmizi">{{cite news |title=Peshawar underground: It's difficult to be a rock star in the land the epitomises conservatism, yet something shocking is happening. There is a rock scene waiting to burst out of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rahim Shah was just the beginning, Sajid and Zeeshan were proof that originality can spring out of unlikely places and there are others who are making their riffs and ragas heard... slowly, but surely. |url=http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2007-weekly/nos-24-06-2007/instep/mainissue.htm |access-date=13 December 2012 |newspaper=The News on Sunday Instep |date=24 June 2007 |first=Maria |last=Tirmizi |author2=Rizwan-ul-Haq |archive-date=25 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825024510/http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2007-weekly/nos-24-06-2007/instep/mainissue.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2005, the coalition successfully passed the "Prohibition of Use of Women in Photograph Bill, 2005,"<ref name="Clarke">{{cite book |last1=Clarke |first1=Michael E. |last2=Misra |first2=Ashutosh |title=Pakistan's Stability Paradox: Domestic, Regional and International Dimensions |date=1 March 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-63934-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpSpAgAAQBAJ&q=virtue+vice+pakistan+2002&pg=PA21 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-date=7 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307070309/https://books.google.com/books?id=fpSpAgAAQBAJ&q=virtue+vice+pakistan+2002&pg=PA21 |url-status=live }}</ref> leading to the removal of all public advertisements in Peshawar that featured women.<ref>{{cite news |title=PESHAWAR: Advertisers forced to deface billboards |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/190452/peshawar-advertisers-forced-to-deface-billboards |access-date=6 April 2017 |work=Dawn |date=3 May 2006 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407144320/https://www.dawn.com/news/190452/peshawar-advertisers-forced-to-deface-billboards |url-status=live }}</ref>

The religious coalition was swept out of power by the secular and leftist [[Awami National Party]] in elections after the fall of Musharraf in 2008,<ref name="Time">{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Simon |title=Religion's Defeat in Pakistan's Election |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1718614,00.html |access-date=6 April 2017 |agency=Time |date=29 February 2008 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407233148/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1718614,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> leading to the removal of the MMA's socially conservative laws.<ref>{{cite news |title=Musicians in Pakistan's northwest long for better times |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-music-idUSISL3885020080316 |access-date=7 April 2017 |work=Reuters |date=15 March 2008 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407144453/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-music-idUSISL3885020080316 |url-status=live }}</ref> 62% of eligible voters voted in the election.<ref name="SPDC" /> The Awami National Party was targeted by Taliban militants, with hundreds of its members having been assassinated by the [[Pakistani Taliban]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Pakistan's liberal Pashtuns are losing the battle' |url=http://www.dw.com/en/pakistans-liberal-pashtuns-are-losing-the-battle/a-16477304 |access-date=6 April 2017 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=24 December 2012 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407150001/http://www.dw.com/en/pakistans-liberal-pashtuns-are-losing-the-battle/a-16477304 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2013, the centrist [[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]] was elected to power in the province on an anti-corruption platform. Peshawar city recorded a voter turnout of 80% for the 2013 elections.<ref name="SPDC" />