Pakistan's Sherry Rehman creates history by becoming first female Opposition leader of the Senate

For her services to Pakistan, she was awarded the state's highest civil award, the Nishan-i-Imtiaz in March 2013.Photo courtesy SherryRehman.com

We have our fair share of rivalry with Pakistan. But this, move deserves our applause. Pakistan Peoples Party's Senator Sherry Rehman has been declared the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. She is the first female in Pakistan to hold the position. Rehman is the party's seventh opposition leader in the Senate.

Who is Sherry Rehman?

Shahrbano Rehman, better known as Sherry Rehman, was born on 21st December 1960 in Karachi..Photo courtesy Twitter.

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. She is a noted journalist with over 20 years of experience.  She was the former editor of Herald. Rehman was the first Pakistani media person to be recognized by the UK House of Lords for independent journalism at the Annual British Muslim Ceremony in 2002.

Career as a diplomat :

Sherry has served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the US from 2011 to 2013 and was elected to the Senate in 2015. As Federal Minister during 2008-09, Rehman made history by preparing and delivering Pakistan's first comprehensive briefing on National Security to an in camera joint sitting of Pakistan's Parliament in October 2008. The briefing led to the adoption of the Joint Resolution on Terrorism, the first ever official consensus by public representatives of Pakistan on the issue of the country's terrorism.

Democracy's hero

Rehman was awarded the title of 'Democracy's Hero' in 2009 by the International Republican Institute for her services. Photo courtesy Twitter.

In a country with a million issues, Sherry has been a relentless fighter. Like India has its fair of problems related to women. Rehman is the architect of the first parliamentary charter and bill for women empowerment and mover of the Anti-Honour Killings Bill, as well as the Freedom of Information Act 2004. Rehman remains the only legislator in Pakistan who has ever moved parliament for amending laws that misuse the Pakistan's Blasphemy provisions.

Rehman was awarded the title of 'Democracy's Hero' in 2009 by the International Republican Institute for her services for democracy. For her services to Pakistan, she was awarded the state's highest civil award, the Nishan-i-Imtiaz in March 2013.

But it wasn't an easy journey for Sherry.

Sherry was much encouraged by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Photo cpourtesy Twitter.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which is lead by Imran Khan, on 21st March, 2018 had challenged the PPP's move to nominate Senator Rehman for the opposition leader's position in the upper house of the parliament. In a letter to Senate Chairman Sanjrani, PTI Senator Azam Khan Swati - himself a nominee for the seat -had contended that the list of members supporting Senator Rehman for the slot of opposition leader contravened the rules and procedures of the house.

Despite all the alliances, Swati, secured only 19 votes while Sherry had 34.

Sherry was much encouraged by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari . "Election of Sherry Rehman as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate was in line with PPP's inherited policy of empowerment of women and providing them equal opportunities to play their role in every sphere of life," said Bhutto.

Bilawal had earlier expressed hope that Rehman would become the first female opposition leader in the Senate, saying, "PPP ready to make history again". Earlier,  the late Benazir Bhutto had served as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly during the two previous PML-N governments in the 1990s.

We wish Sherry all the best.