Sherry Rehman Explained

Honorific-Prefix:NI
Sherry Rehman
Birthname:Shakell Rahman
Office1:Federal Minister of Climate Change
Term Start1:19 April 2022
Term End1:10 August 2023
Predecessor1:Malik Amin Aslam
Office2:Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Pakistan
Term Start2:22 March 2018
Term End2:26 August 2018
Predecessor2:Aitzaz Ahsan
Successor2:Raja Zafar-ul-Haq
Office3:Member of the Senate of Pakistan
Constituency3:General seat from Sindh
Term Start3:8 June 2015
Office4:Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
Predecessor4:Husain Haqqani
President4:Asif Ali Zardari
Primeminister4:Yousaf Raza Gillani
Successor4:Jalil Abbas Jilani
Term Start4:23 November 2011
Term End4:14 October 2013
Office5:Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Predecessor5:Nisar Memon
President5:Pervez Musharraf
Asif Ali Zardari
Primeminister5:Yousaf Raza Gillani
Successor5:Qamar Zaman Kaira
Term Start5:31 March 2008
Term End5:14 March 2009
Office6:Federal Minister for Women Development
President6:Pervez Musharraf
Asif Ali Zardari
Primeminister6:Yousaf Raza Gillani
Predecessor6:Nazar Muhammad Gondal
Successor6:Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani
Term Start6:15 May 2008
Term End6:3 November 2008
Office7:Federal Minister for Culture
President7:Pervez Musharraf
Asif Ali Zardari
Primeminister7:Yousaf Raza Gillani
Predecessor7:Khawaja Saad Rafique
Term Start7:24 May 2008
Term End7:12 August 2008
Office8:Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
Term Start8:17 March 2008
Term End8:23 November 2011
Constituency8:Reserved seat for women
Term Start9:2002
Term End9:2007
Constituency9:Reserved seat for women
Party: Pakistan People's Party (2002-present)
Birth Date:21 December 1960
Birth Place:Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Alma Mater:Smith College
University of Sussex
Awards:Nishan-e-Imtiaz (2013)
Primeminister1:Shehbaz Sharif

Sherry Rehman (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|شیری رحمان; born 21 December 1960) is a Pakistani politician, journalist and former diplomat who has been the member of the Senate of Pakistan since 2015. She was the first female Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from March to August 2018 and served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2013. She is currently serving as the Federal Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change.

Born in Karachi, Rehman received her B.A. from Smith College and her M.A. in art history from the University of Sussex. In 1988, she joined the Herald as its editor and remained with the magazine until 1999. In 2002, she was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan. She was re-elected in 2008, and became a member of the Federal Cabinet under Prime Minister Gillani as the Minister for Information.

She resigned from the cabinet in 2009 and went on to serve as the Chair of the Pakistan Red Crescent and founded the non-partisan think tank, Jinnah Institute. In November 2011, she was appointed as the Ambassador to the United States and remained until April 2013. In 2015, she was elected to the Senate.

Early life and education

Sherbano Rehman was born on 21 December 1960 in Karachi[1] to Hassanally A. Rahman. Her mother served as first vice president of the State Bank of Pakistan.[2] Rehman attended the Karachi Grammar School receiving her A level from there, she moved to the United States where she studied at the Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she received her B.A.[3] in political science in 1985.[4] She moved to the United Kingdom, where she received an M.A. in art history from the University of Sussex. She serves as the chairperson of the Jinnah Institute, a research organisation.[5]

Professional career

Rehman started her professional career as a journalist with The Daily Star and then joined The Herald and became its editor-in-chief at the age of 26, serving until 1998.[6] After leaving the Herald in 1998, she co-authored the book The Kashmiri Shawl: From Jamawar to Paisley. She worked as a professional journalist for 20 years and served as a member of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors from 1988 to 1998. Rehman hosted a television current affairs show in 1999. She has also worked for the Pakistan Red Crescent Society as chairperson.

Political career

She was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time as a candidate for PPP on reserved seat for women in 2002 Pakistani general election where she remained until 2007. During her tenure as Member of the National Assembly, she remained Central Information Secretary of PPP, President of Policy Planning for the PPP and remained a part of the party's Foreign Relations Committee.

Rehman was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate for PPP on the reserved seat for women from Sindh in 2008 Pakistani general election. During her second tenure as Member of the National Assembly, she authored severals legislations which were tabled in the National Assembly.

In March 2008, she was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and was appointed as the Minister for Information and Broadcasting.[7] She was given the additional ministerial portfolio of Health in April 2008, Women Development and Culture in May 2008. She remained Minister for Culture until August 2008. In November 2008, she relinquished portfolios of Health and Women Development.[8]

Rehman resigned her post as Information Minister in March 2009 in protest over government attempt to put restrictions on the freedom of the press.[9] [10]

In 2010, she tabled a bill seeking to abolish the death penalty for blasphemy, as a result she was placed under police surveillance after receiving death threats. Rehman was accused of committing "blasphemy, a crime that carries the death penalty" in Pakistan" in connection with a 2010 TV talk show." Her accusers went to the Pakistan "Supreme Court with his complaint after police refused to register it. The court ordered police in the central Pakistani city of Multan to investigate."[11] [12]

In November 2011, Rehman was named Pakistan's Ambassador to United States following the resignation of Hussain Haqqani,[13] who was asked to resign by Prime Minister Gilani in the wake of the "Memogate" scandal.[14] [15] [16] While ambassador, she called on the United States to end its drone strikes in Pakistan.[17] She left the post in May 2013.

In June 2015, she was elected to the Senate of Pakistan for the first time as a candidate of PPP on general seat from Sindh and replaced Abdul Latif Ansari.[18] [19]

In March 2018, she was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and became the first female in Pakistan to hold the office.[20] She served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate till August 2018.[21]

In 2020, she created controversy when she clapped back at PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz for his comments, "Mera Jism Meri Marzi, MeToo and apna khana khud garam kero." She argued that parliament should not play the culture and religious card when talking about women’s rights.[22]

As of 2020, she was the chairperson on the Senate committee on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).[23]

In 2022 she spoke to international media about major floods.[24] During the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, she pushed for an agreement on loss and damage, for the rich nations to compensate the poor countries for the damage they have caused, holding the Pakistani floods that year as a prime example of the damage being done by climate change. After an agreement was reached, she said that it "provides hope to vulnerable communities all over the world who are fighting for survival from climate stress, and gives some credibility to the COP process."[25]

Awards and recognition

Publications

Author

Editor

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sherry Rehman – profile. 17 June 2017. DAWN.COM. 23 November 2011. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823203638/https://www.dawn.com/news/675347. 23 August 2017.
  2. News: Profile: Pakistan's new US envoy Sherry Rehman. 18 June 2017. BBC News. 23 November 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823204615/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15858462. 23 August 2017.
  3. News: Constable . Pamela . Pamela Constable . Pakistan's new envoy brings liberal charm but faces slim chance for diplomatic thaw . 18 June 2017. The Washington Post. 7 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823210605/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/pakistans-new-envoy-brings-liberal-charm-but-faces-slim-chance-for-diplomatic-thaw/2012/02/07/gIQApmyZxQ_story.html. 23 August 2017.
  4. Web site: Profile. www.senate.gov.pk. Senate of Pakistan. 18 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908190318/http://senate.gov.pk/en/profile_comm.php?uid=878&catid=&subcatid=&cattitle=. 8 September 2017.
  5. News: Extraordinary Pakistanis: Sherry Rehman – The Express Tribune. 18 June 2017. Express Tribune. 21 May 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823223733/https://tribune.com.pk/story/889570/extraordinary-pakistanis-sherry-rehman/. 23 August 2017.
  6. News: Switching gears: Sherry Rehman found her calling for change – The Express Tribune. 18 June 2017. Express Tribune. 12 October 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823222048/https://tribune.com.pk/story/616781/switching-gears-sherry-rehman-found-her-calling-for-change/. 23 August 2017.
  7. News: 24-member federal cabinet takes oath. 12 February 2018. thenews.com.pk. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180212095159/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/656225. 12 February 2018.
  8. Web site: Yousaf Raza Gillani cabinet. Cabinet Division. 12 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170505115247/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/cabinet/userfiles1/file/Info%20serveces/Federal%20Cabinet%20since%201947/12%20april%20updated/Federal%20Cabinet%20of%20Syed%20Yousaf%20Raza%20Gillani,%20Latest_doc.pdf. 5 May 2017.
  9. News: Pakistan appoints liberal lawmaker as new U.S. envoy. 18 June 2017. The Washington Post. 23 November 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170417190834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-appoints-liberal-lawmaker-as-new-us-envoy/2011/11/23/gIQAv8PsnN_story.html. 17 April 2017.
  10. News: Federal cabinet: The twists and turns. 19 July 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170809132832/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/02/05/federal-cabinet-the-twists-and-turns/. 9 August 2017.
  11. News: Ambassador from Pakistan: Who is Sherry Rehman? . AllGov . live . 2017-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170221005738/http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/ambassador-from-pakistan-who-is-sherry-rehman?news=843647 . 21 February 2017.
  12. News: Pakistan's Sherry Rehman stands alone after colleagues' assassinations . The Washington Post . live . 18 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170823210153/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pakistans-sherry-rehman-stands-alone-after-colleagues-assassinations/2011/03/21/AFfXyyoB_story.html . 23 August 2017.
  13. News: Profile: Sherry Rehman, from journalist to ambassador – The Express Tribune. 17 June 2017. Express Tribune. 23 November 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823221850/https://tribune.com.pk/story/296285/profile-sherry-rehman-from-journalist-to-ambassador/. 23 August 2017.
  14. News: Sherry Rehman appointed Pak Ambassador to US – GEO.tv. 25 June 2017. 23 November 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120416014508/http://www.geo.tv/11-23-2011/89174.htm. 16 April 2012.
  15. Web site: Sherry Rehman appointed Pakistan's Ambassador to the US – The Express Tribune . 23 November 2011 . Tribune.com.pk . 2012-07-09 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120711172036/http://tribune.com.pk/story/296263/sherry-rehman-appointed-pakistans-ambassador-to-the-us/ . 11 July 2012.
  16. News: Sherry Rehman Chosen as Pakistani Ambassador to U.S.. Masood. Salman. 2011-11-23. The New York Times. 2017-02-20. Rosenberg. Matthew. 0362-4331. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221011123/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/world/asia/pakistan-names-new-envoy-to-us-as-probe-of-predecessor-begins.html. 21 February 2017.
  17. News: Pakistani diplomat calls for end to U.S. drone strikes. CBC News.
  18. News: PPP's Sherry Rehman elected Senator unopposed. 17 June 2017. DAWN.COM. 8 June 2015. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823205544/https://www.dawn.com/news/1186936. 23 August 2017.
  19. News: Sherry Rehman elected senator unopposed. 12 February 2018. thenews.com.pk. en.
  20. News: Guramani. Nadir. Sherry Rehman becomes the first female Leader of the Opposition in Senate. 22 March 2018. DAWN.COM. 22 March 2018.
  21. News: Guramani . Nadir . PML-N's Raja Zafarul Haq replaces Sherry Rehman as leader of the opposition in Senate . 26 August 2018 . DAWN.COM . 26 August 2018.
  22. Web site: Guramani. Nadir. 2020-01-17. Sherry Rehman fires back at PTI senator for appropriating women's oppression as 'culture'. 2020-07-10. DAWN.COM. en.
  23. News: Sherry Rehman demands 'concrete information' on CPEC. Daily Times (Pakistan).
  24. News: 2022-08-29 . Pakistan floods: One third of country is under water - minister . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-08-29.
  25. News: Plumer . Brad . Friedman . Lisa . Bearak . Max . Gross . Jenny . 2022-11-19 . In a First, Rich Countries Agree to Pay for Climate Damages in Poor Nations . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-04-30 . 0362-4331.
  26. News: PM Gilani appoints Sherry Rehman ambassador to US. 20 June 2017. Business Recorder. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823210257/http://www.brecorder.com/2011/11/23/36267/. 23 August 2017.
  27. News: Zardari and Sherry among 'top Asians'. 20 June 2017. DAWN.COM. 12 January 2009. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170824005726/https://www.dawn.com/news/338357. 24 August 2017.
  28. News: Sherry Rehman honoured as 'Democracy's Hero' Pakistan News Newspaper Daily English Online. 18 June 2017. 17 January 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100117170932/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/07-Jan-2009/Sherry-Rehman-honoured-as-Democracys-Hero. 17 January 2010.
  29. News: Peace award for Sherry Rehman. 20 June 2017. thenews.com.pk. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823204733/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/amp/123021-peace-award-for-sherry-rehman. 23 August 2017.
  30. News: Reporter. The Newspaper's Staff. KARACHI: Conciliatory politics need of the hour: Sherry. 20 June 2017. DAWN.COM. 23 March 2009. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823203251/https://www.dawn.com/news/451913. 23 August 2017.
  31. News: Sherry to get award for 'extraordinary accomplishments'. 20 June 2017. The Nation. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20140709011057/http://nation.com.pk/national/16-Sep-2012/sherry-to-get-award-for-extraordinary-accomplishments. 9 July 2014.
  32. Web site: WDN to Honor Frances Fragos Townsend and Sherry Rehman with 2011 Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award . 2011-02-09 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110309025214/http://www.wdn.org/news-events-press-center/news/wdn-honor-frances-fragos-townsend-and-sherry-rehman-2011-jeane-j-kirkp . 9 March 2011.
  33. News: Sherry Rehman to get prestigious Smith College Medal. 18 June 2017. 28 July 2014. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20140728075001/http://nation.com.pk/international/15-Sep-2012/sherry-rehman-to-get-prestigious-smith-college-medal. 28 July 2014.
  34. Web site: Sherry Rehman recognised among world's top Women of Impact Pakistan Today. www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 16 April 2013 . 2019-01-19.
  35. Web site: PN Member Ambassador Rehman Received Highest Pakistani Civil Award Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention. pncp.info. 2019-01-19.
  36. Web site: Ambassador Sherry Rehman recognized among world's top Women of Impact – Embassy of Pakistan, Washington D.C. en-US. 2019-01-19.

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