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Pakistan has appointed Sherry Rehman as new ambassador to the United States on Wednesday Nov. 23, 2011. - AP (File Photo)
Shahrbano Rehman, better known as Sherry Rehman, was born on 21st December 1960 in Karachi. She was educated at Smith College and later at the University of Sussex where she studied Art History and Political Science.
Rehman practiced as a professional journalist for 20 years, writing for national and international publications. She worked as Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan’s leading newsmagazine, The Herald (Pakistan) for 10 years and served as a member of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) from 1988-1998.
She served as a Member of National Assembly (MNA) from 2002 to 2007 as the Central Information Secretary. During this time, she was also President of Policy Planning for the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians and served on the Foreign Relations Committee of the party.
In March 2008, Sherry Rehman was re-elected as an MNA from the Sindh province on the list of reserved seats for women.
During her tenure in parliament, Sherry Rehman authored all five PPP bills tabled in the National Assembly: Women Empowerment Bill, Anti-Honor Killings Bill, Domestic Violence Prevention Bill, Affirmative Action Bill and Hudood Repeal Bill.
She also moved two bills for the media – the Freedom of Information Bill and the Press Act, which prevents journalists on duty from being arrested under the 1999 Press Ordinance.
In January 2009, she was hailed “Democracy’s Hero” in a report of the International Republican Institute as a result of her close association with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s campaign for democratic rule in Pakistan. However, the reference received mixed coverage in Pakistan.
In the same year, Rehman was also named among the “100 Most Influential Asians” by UAE magazine, Ahlan.
Today, she is founding chairman of the Jinnah Institute, a think tank closely aligned to the army’s national security objectives than her predecessor as ambassador, Husain Haqqani, who is deeply distrusted by the generals.
Rehman resigned as Federal Information Minister in 2009, due to differences of opinion with President Asif Ali Zardari on imposing restrictions on the media.
For a time, she was confined to her home in Karachi, her security threatened, and she criticised the government’s refusal to adopt law reforms.
Her fellow campaigner, PPP politician Salman Taseer, was murdered by his bodyguard in January. Two months later, Pakistan’s minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed in Islamabad.
Ali Dayan Hasan, the Pakistan director of US-based rights group Human Rights Watch, welcomed Rehman’s appointment and called it the “most viable, face-saving formula for all concerned”.
“She is a woman, a democrat, she is a devout liberal who has taken very brave positions in Pakistan on very contentious issues,” he told AFP.
“But she is likely to be a far less threatening figure to the Pakistani military because she has greater empathy, if not sympathy, with the army’s national security considerations,” he added.
On 23rd November 2011, Sherry Rehman was appointed Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States. This appointment comes 12 hours after Husain Haqqani was asked to resign by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the wake of the Memogate scandal.
I welcome the appointment of Ms. Rehaman, It is excellent choice and was difficult to make. People from India welcome her to USA and Americans welcome her. My Best Wishes
Sherry Rahman is a GREAT CHOICE. She is a Liberal and an educated person, not STUCK to Religion like glue. She has a moderate interpretation of Islam, which needs to be presented to a Modern World of nearly 6 Billion Non Muslims.. Radical Islam is chipping away at the Muslims in general as being "anti Women" , Sherry's appointment will certainly prove otherwise, Pakisatn needs to modernize and show the true face of a Modern Muslim state like the UAE… Good Luck Sherry and welcome to the USA…
GREAT CHOICE, Sherry Rehman has lot of traits , the task at a time where whole south Asia is at stake. she is well known to
highly political body internationally can do person.
we wish her all the best for great success in life and also she
will care for gifted country to us from founding fathers, she need
to be care full on subjects WHEN it comes to PAKISTANI honor.
Right choice under the current situation.
How many minister's in Pakistan's history have resigned on a matter of principle? Ms. S. Rehman is one such. I don't know her personally I have only read her articles – maybe she is the only one. In the present situation she is an excellent choice, in my opinion, to represent Pakistan, my fatherland, in Washington D.C. where a lot of damage has to be repaired at a point in time when Pakistan is being constantly demonized left right and center by ignorant and vicious people who are not aware that Pakistan was created by our great founding father Quaid-a-Azam M.A. Jinnah, by an 'act' of democracy, not an invading army or war or revolution. Good luck to her. Pakistan Zindabad
Mr. Asif Zardari deserves congratulations this time. It is an excellent choice. Sherry Rehman is not only a good journalist and a politician but also a great defender of humanity. She is the only leader after Mr. Taseer shaheed in PPP who has the courage and guts to take stand for women and minorities in Pakistan. I wish Mrs. Rehman makes some true changes in Pakistan Embassy in Washington and Pakistani consulates in United States, stays away from appeasers, users and find a better way to represent and serve the common Pakistanis in America. So far the Pakistani Ambassadors and their secretaries have been uncaring, rude and not reachable. They only serve the interests of certain class and appeasers. I wish Sherry Rehman will prove to be a fruitful ambassador of Pakistan. Pakistan needs an ambassador who can can raise the image of Pakistan and the Pakistanis in America by true hard work, devotion and positive attitude. My hearty congratulations to Mrs. Sherry Rehman. I wish her good luck and success.
Very good choice indeed. But wait and see how she would interpret and toe the official line and policy of Pakistan Govt. She may find it difficult as many policies are just dumb.
She is looking smart and better than Haqqani.She is educated and good politician and Excellent Choice for favour of Pakistan. Be care full other nonsense persons. Take Care Allah Hafiz.
We would have liked to know about her family ties as well; spouse, children?
should be appoint such a person with good experienc in Foreign affairs and International relation and have a knowledge of negotiation.
Excellent Choice.
Her Excellency,
As a Pakistani-American and having served for 27 years as Information Wizard with Pakistan Information Ministry from 1973 to 1999, I welcome your appointment as Pakistan's Ambassaor to the US.
I have full appreciation of your credentials and can say that you won't be a threatening figure to the Pakistani military rather you would work untirelessly toward cementing relations between two armies of Pak-US in critical days ahead because you have greater empathy, undedrstanding, and awareness of diverse-cultures of Pakistan and the United States of America.
I and my Pakistani-American friends and community welcome your well considered appointment, though delayed! We wish you all the best in your endevour to build fresh friendly relations between the two countires.
Your well-wisher,
Baloch, Ghulam-Hussain Qamar
Senior Media Anlyst
Washington DC Area, USA
good choice.
yet a better choice than any other nonsense political leader. Rehman is oky but needs to be careful I support her appointment she is capable person to head the appointment .