Ms. Rehman goes to Washington
By Huma Imtiaz
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 3:35 PM
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For Sherry Rehman, her birthday present may have come one month early.
In a move that surprised many (including myself) who were playing the Pakistan's Next Ambassador to the U.S. guessing game, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appointed Rehman to the post, hours after Husain Haqqani resigned in the wake of the Memogate scandal.
A former journalist and now Chairperson of Jinnah Institute, a think tank based in Islamabad, 50-year old Rehman has been through a rough two years. After resigning from her post in 2009 as Minister for Information following the tussle between the government and the judiciary over the government's clampdown on television coverage, Rehman set up her think tank while retaining her position in the National Assembly.
But in 2010, all of that changed. Sherry Rehman campaigned for amendments to the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan, after Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, was sentenced to death in Punjab.
Pakistan's right wing went into overdrive. Rehman received death threats, and a fatwa was issued calling for her to be killed. She was confined to her house, under a self-imposed house arrest. After Punjab Governor and flamboyant liberal Salmaan Taseer was murdered by his guard for supporting Aasia Bibi, and months later the Christian Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated by gunmen, fears for Rehman's safety became more urgent. A court case was filed against Rehman by Saleem Akhtar, a shopkeeper in Multan, accusing her of committing blasphemy; in fact, all Rehman had called for was a change in the laws.
Rehman was forced to withdraw her bill calling for amendments in the Blasphemy Law. She resumed work on a number of initiatives being undertaken by the Jinnah Institute including working on a Track II India-Pakistan peace process and publishing reports on the Afghanistan peace process.
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Rehman comes from a prominent Sindhi family; her father was a well-known lawyer and judge, while her mother was the first female vice president of Pakistan's Central Bank. A graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts, she began her career as a journalist in the 1980s. Rehman went on to become at age 26 the youngest editor of the Herald magazine, a major Pakistani monthly. During her ten-year stint as editor, she was arrested and briefly held after the magazine ran a story critical of a government minister. After leaving the Herald, she wrote a book on Kashmiri shawls, The Kashmiri Shawl: From Jamawar to Paisley.
Rehman had met and became close to the late Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto during the former's time at the Herald. After Rehman left the Herald and published her book, she officially joined the party. In a 2009 interview with me, Rehman said, "A force of nature called Benazir Bhutto had decided that I would be in politics and it was virtually impossible to resist."
In 2002, she became a member of the parliament, taking one of the seats reserved for women, and was re-elected in the 2008 elections. In her own words, she describes the late Ms. Bhutto as "the guru." Rehman remained a close confidante of Bhutto, and as part of the core group of the PPP, helped formulate the party's election manifesto. Rehman accompanied Bhutto in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007, when Bhutto was assassinated. It was in Rehman's car that Bhutto was rushed to hospital.
Rehman's relationship with the PPP has been an uneasy one in the years after Bhutto's death. She became Minister for Information in 2008 but resigneda year later after a clampdown on TV channels that were broadcasting the campaign to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry as Chief Justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court. In 2010, after she appeared on a television show for Geo News, rabid PPP supporters surrounded her residence in Karachi. The party issued a show-cause notice (asking her to explain herself) to her for appearing on the show against party orders.
While there are murmurs that her relationship with those controlling the PPP has taken a turn for the better, her appointment as ambassador has made many, including some in Pakistan's military establishment, heave a sigh of relief. A liberal, eloquent, politically suave and stylish, Rehman may just be the dose of stability required in Pakistan's civil-military relationship, and with Pakistan's relationship with the United States. However,her appointment has already made the religious right-wing parties scream bloody murder -- a leader of the religious party the
Sunni Tehreek said, "Rehman was already following "policies of the U.S. and the Jewish lobby as she tried to abolish the country's blasphemy laws." A petition has also reportedly been filed in a court in Multan against her appointment as ambassador, accusing Rehman of committing blasphemy in a TV show aired in 2010. How these objections play out in the coming days remains to be seen, but in the meantime, the Embassy of Pakistan awaits their new representative.
Huma Imtiaz works as a correspondent for Express News in Washington DC, and can be reached at huma.imtiaz@gmail.com.
FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images
I wish her luck.
At Least She will be safely Away from Everyday Mayhem and Murder
The Pakistani Civilian Govt is Merely a Front to be-fool the western world in to believing that they are talking to a democratically elected Govt.
In a country where Foreign Policy and all important matters are decided by Mafioso Military, these civilian cardboard leaders and ambassador hardly do any thing more than take a blame or two, till Army allows others to there.
Americans have learned it the hard-way after loosing thousands of men and billions of dollars.
Hussein Haqani was always anti Pakistani Army and could have done nothing except, some times being a postman and an articulate letter leader.
His aim was purely personal devoid of any principles. Or he might have had delusions to being in position to harm the only organized entity in Pakistan-The Army, forever looking for realization of most idiotic -self destructive national goals and objectives.
Annexation of reaming part of Kashmir and having Afghanistan as its Colony.
In nutshell, being ex ambassador to USA, Haqqani will be in heavy demand on already crowded lecture circuit and may even write a new Book - "The Memogate"
Same future awaits Sherry Rahman, who could cool her heels in USA, away from Gun Totting Mad Mullah breathing down her slender neck.
I am always surprised by self style experts .
Whilst India may harbour continued colonial designs on Pakistan,Hyderabad and Sikkim, after 60 years . India should accept its borders and not seek impose on other nations in south asia
The Army provides vital intelligence and informations based on which Civilians Make decisions . Yes there may be differences of opinion, just as in the US the Pentagon did not want to withdraw troops from Afghanistan so soon, and obama accepted that request. there are many examples of the Pentagon "influencing " Obama
Hussain Haqqani was fired, because there is an investigation going on. If found guilty he will be convicted of treason for seeking to use foreign powers to politicise the Military and making it his partys own personal army
His was lying through his teeth, about a coup hence why Mullen dismissed him
Mad mullah ? sheer ignorance . Perhaps youve confused pakistan, with right wing indian fanatics from Shiv Senu
Pakistan's Policy remains keeping hostile indian influence in the region at a minumum
and urging india to stop its occupation of Kashmir and Jundagh
American aid is also only 9 billion cash + Training programs + weapons
at the 9 billion is not a blank cheque but careful reimbursment
Pakistan has lost 70 billion on war on terror , so US aid is only a fractions
US Troops die because theyve failed to win over the local population, with killing of civilians and invasion of iraq being seen as a war against islam
with out pakistan, NATO would have 0 intel and no transit
No body trusts India, the entire world know any moment know you may go bankrupt or collapse into a maoist civil war
@Yosef101. India does not need any territory of Pakistan. Unlike Pakistan India is a true democracy. It is only Panjabistan that wants to make Sindh, NWFA and Baluchistan its colonies. Panjabistan also wants now Afghanistan to be its colony. Only 10% budget is for others. 90% is for Panjabistan. 90% of the water is for Panjabistan. 90% of the Army is from Panjabistan. The Sindhi President has kept American marines to save himself from Panjabistan army. Ask any Sindhi or Baluchi or Pathan; they all want to join India and get rid of Panjabistan.
And before I forget let me add that 90% of the terrorists are from Punjabistan eg. TTE, LeT, Kashmiri and Sons, etc.
Washington appointment will be a test of Ms. Rehman's nerves...
She's a great writer, a dedicated party worker, an admirable activist. However, Ms. Rehman has no diplomatic experience whatsoever.
Whereas she's held responsible positions within the Pakistani governmental setup and while she has served the cause of human rights effectively, Ms. Rehman could possibly turn out to be a major flop as Pakistan's ambassador to the US.
Ms. Rehman is coming to Washington at a time when Pakistan's goodwill is down in the dumps, to say the least. Factors that resulted in Husain Haqqani's resignation are looming large on the horizon. Pakistan's active involvement in sponsoring terrorism, its inability go control militancy, a missing in action, targeted approach vis-a-vis cooperating with the United States in curbing the extremist menace, the list is endless.
Ms. Rehman, being an academically actively and intellectually gifted individual knows well that Washington doesn't give second chances. What might really test Ms. Rehman in Washington is her lack of experience in the sphere of foreign affairs. She'll have to make new friends, create fresh bondages and work on winning Washington's confidence.
Things are difficult for Pakistan. Being the most dangerous country in the world, Pakistan doesn't have a leg to stand on in the current set of circumstances. Sherry Rehman was brave enough to stand up against the Mullahs and introduced an anti-blasphemy law in the Pakistani parliament. She will need all the courage and stamina to make new friends in Washington.
Let me thank YUSEF101 to answer TUNNEL-VISION, an anti-Pakistan Indian propagandist. I would not waste my tome on such two bit analyst, whose only job is to belittle Pakistan and daydream that India one day will become a Mother India.
But I would certainly comment on some horrendous accusations levelled by AHSON HASAN, without a shred of documentation or research.
First Mr. Hasan claims that:
“She's a great writer, a dedicated party worker, an admirable activist. However, Ms. Rehman has no diplomatic experience whatsoever”.
Mr. Hasan, in International diplomacy, being a career diplomat is no criteria for success. In USA, the president allocates the ambassadorships to people, who contribute to election funding and still none ever objects to that. Mr. Haqqani also never had an experience of diplomacy.
Then he comes with a ridiculous charge that;
“Pakistan's active involvement in sponsoring terrorism, its inability go control militancy, a missing in action, targeted approach vis-a-vis cooperating with the United States in curbing the extremist menace, the list is endless”.
I do not know how much Mr. Hasan knows about the sacrifices made by Pakistan and its people against the so-called war on terror, which was never Pakistan’s making and was imposed on Pakistan by an arrogant Bush. USA has actually created this monster called Taleban to serve its purpose in defeating Soviet Union and leaving Afghanistan and Pakistan high and dry after its purpose was fulfilled. USA even called these Taleban, Mujahideen, meaning Freedom Fighters. The same people are now terrorists because they do not want USA and NATO running around in the streets of Afghanistan as cowboys, shooting left and right. USA has no business being in this region after Al-Qaeeda is demolished. Period.
In the end Mr. Hasan bombastically concludes that:
“Being the most dangerous country in the world, Pakistan doesn't have a leg to stand on in the current set of circumstances”.
Dear Mr. Hasan, why is Pakistan the most dangerous country in the world. What criteria, do you use to say such rubbish things?
Is it because Pakistan has told USA to mind its own business, stop asking it to kill its own people, is the only Muslim country to have nuclear weapons or is it because Pakistan does not share USA’s geo-political designs in the area which is to exploit resources and encircle China. Wake up and smell the coffee. UA is a spent force – economically, politically, human rights wise and morally. The days are not away, when it will become a nation of have not and not a lone super power.
You are Entitle to your Persistent Denials & Blatant Subterfuge
BASHY QURAISHY,
You are Entitle to your shameless Persistent Denials & Blatant Subterfuge.
The acutely megalomaniac behavior unfortunately has consumed educated but confused Pakistanis.
Do you and your teeming ilk, really believe that India is stupid enough to dream about conquering pure Pakistan, teeming with mad Mullah bombing mosques and killing each others, apart from exporting terrorism the world over?
Mr. Hasan rightly concludes that:
“Being the most dangerous country in the world, Pakistan doesn't have a leg to stand on in the current set of circumstances”.
But your inborn aversion to accept the hard truth and dirty facts s not unique, as most Pakistanis suffer from this terminal malady.
Shiv Sena?
How bombs were blasted and how may people were killed by Shiv Sena, last week, last month, last year, last five years?
India is not a heaven and neither perfect, but certainly has followed a far different trajectory than that of Pure Pakistan.
Have a good day dude...
Ambassadors are a Cerimonial posts given to those with some specific talents and backgrounds that fit with the country they re appointed to…..Ambassadors DO NOT MAKE the internal or the Foreign Policies of their own country……they are appointed to fascilitate to the host govt whatever their own govt wants to …..and attend the National Days Flag waving and local events etc. in other words day to day work is carried out by Kompiuteriu taisymas Kaune the routines of burecracy in the foreign office…..
Mr Haqqani not only exceeded that but went further …. he began to build and dictate his own brand of Pakistani Policies that were not endorsed by the Political or the Military policy makers in Pakistan….
Unfortunately Pakistan is not a Normal Country
NOTCRAZY,
In a country where Foreign Policy and all important matters are decided by Mafioso Military, these civilian cardboard leaders and ambassador hardly do any thing more than take a blame or two, till Army allows more convenient replacements.
It is still not clear that Maqqani was working on his own and not obeying his boss Zardari.
The whole affair is clumsy and only further betrays what is going on in Pakistan.
However It will be a damn good getaway for Ms. Rehman.
The Pakistani government has set Ms. Rahman for failure. At best, the U.S. is working with a government that is indifferent to the ISI and it's seemingly duplicitous efforts at using the Taliban as a proxy in the Afghan theater or at worst, using U.S. aid for some oof the Al-Quaeda inspire groups (ie Lashkar-e-Taiba) to fight ISAF forces in Afghanistan and the NW provinces.
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Opportunity knocks but once
Pakistan's Next Ambassador to the U.S.
She is a courageous woman, a dedicated activist for human rights and minorities.all right.
But hardwwork is awaiting her in Washington to strike a balance between serving her idealistic dream and country's interest.
Probably she will not last for more than a year , for military and the mullahs are scheming for her head. It is a tragedy. Individuals can not save Pakistan from the mess created by its Khaki clad men ,corrupt politicians , mullahs and willing elite collaborators. Not even Allah will be able to do anything!
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