Dr. Fehmida Mirza today created history when she became the first ever woman to be elected as speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly. If I am not wrong, she is also the first every woman to achieve this position in entire Muslim world. She was the candidate of PPP, PML(N), ANP and JUI(F) and secured more than 2/3 of the total votes. She got 249 out of 324 votes casted while her opponent Sardar Mohammad Israr Tareen of PML(Q) could only secure 70 votes. It was interesting to see JUI(F) chief Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman voting for a woman candidate when first he showed some reservations. I guess ministries and urge to join government makes one do anything and everything :). Faisal Kundi has been elected deputy speaker defeating Khush Bakht Shujat.
Dr. Fehmida Mirza belongs to a very influential family of Hyderabad, Sindh and her husband Zulifiqar Mirza is considered a very trusted and close friend of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari. During previous governments of Benazir Bhutto, Mirza was often accused of being Asif Zardari’s front-man in alleged shady deals. That was why Mirza, whose car registration Zulfi One, used to make waves in the federal capital during those days, disappeared from the scene after the dismissal of second Benazir government in 1996.
Dr. Fehmida Mirza won NA seat in February 18 elections from Badin on a general seat and her husband has also been elected in Sindh Assembly. According to official website of PPPP, born on December 20, 1956 in Karachi, she is an agriculturist and business woman by profession and is politically affiliated with the PPPP. She was previously elected MNA in 1997. Dr. Fehmida Mirza did her M.B.B.S degree from Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro in the year 1982. Married, with two sons and two daughters, she has travelled to U.S.A, U.K, Canada, Switzerland, France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. She enjoys reading.
According to Geo:
Dr. Fehmida Mirza has been elected first ever woman speaker of National Assembly.
Opposition had nominated Israr Tareen for speaker’s office. The voting was carried out through secret ballot.
Dr Fahmida Mirza received 249 out of 324 votes, of which 319 were valid and five votes were declared invalid. Asrar Tareen received 70 votes.
Dr Fehmida Mirza hails from Badin in Sindh and has been winning elections continuously since 1997. She is wife of Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, a close friend of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Hailing from an influential political family of Sindh, the 51-year-old Dr Fehmida Mirza has won the National Assembly seat in open electoral contest from Badin in 1997, 2002 and 2008.
Among prominent members of the family are her grandfather Qazi Abdul Qayyum, who was the first Muslim president of Hyderabad Municipality.
Her uncle Qazi Muhammad Akbar was a member of the Provincial Assembly and served as minister of home, finance, public works and information at various times. Dr Mirza’s father Qazi Abid started his political career as Chairman Hyderabad Division Council. He later served as Federal Minister for Education, Water and Power, Food and Agriculture and Information. He was also thrice Secretary General of the APNS.
Her brother Qazi Asad has served as APNS secretary-general nine times and also remained the CPNE secretary-general. He was also a PPP MNA and in that capacity served as chairman of the standing committee on information. Her cousin Qazi Aslam has been secretary-general APNS four times.
We sincerely wish Dr. Fehmida Mirza best of luck and hope this assembly would be run in a much better way than the previous one. Let’s hope that government formation process completes quickly now and everyone is able to focus on real issues on hand.
This is a positive thing for women and its value is more than symbolic.
As the speaker, she will be in charge of the house proceedings and she will also be in a position to ensure that women legislatures have adequate time to talk. One has often read/heard the complaint that barring a small number of vocal women like Sherry Rehman, Kashmala Tariq, Tehmina Doltana, the majority of them are not able/allowed to properly participate due to the attitude of their chauvinistic colleagues. She has an excellent opportunity to bring about a positive change in the culture of the assembly. I hope she makes good use of it and wish her all the best.
Fehmida Mirza is not just a pretty face and a symbol of tokenism. She is a physician by training, a politician by profession, has won three successive elections on a general seat (as opposed to reserved seats). She defeated a sitting senator in the 18 February election by over 70,000 votes. Also, in the late 1990s, went through the wringer that opposition politicians are put through by the ruling parties.
And, finally she was elected a Speaker by over 2/3 majority. Her election as Speaker has done more to improve the image of Pakistan than all the image building missions undertaken by Kashmala Tariqs, Nilofer Bakhtiars, and the various barristers that we have been launching on 5-star tours to Europe and the US in the last 8 years.
Fehmida Mirza speaks good, looks good and, one hopes, will act good.
Women taking a charge. This is a very good sign. Good impression on human rights group. Please dont kill her.
Afterall its their country too.
SH Kavi, you don’t have to psychoanalyze. It’s simple. We are very very very very very skeptical of Mr 10%. His wife’s two terms were disasters. This guy has less leadership skills and lower ethics. Of course, these are opinions, but are shared by many people. Please don’t try to convince me or Hamid otherwise.
Hamid CH said;
“I hope Kiyani and the generals are keeping a close eye and will have the guts to take over before the looting starts all again