Pakistan Elects First Female Speaker of National Assembly
As if there hadn’t been enough earth-shaking events in Pakistan in the past several months – the national state of emergency, the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the parliamentary elections that have put President Pervez Musharraf’s future in jeopardy – now comes an event that’s history-making. For the first time in Pakistan’s 60-year history, a woman has been elected speaker of the National Assembly.Fahmida Mirza, 51, a doctor by trade who hails from Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party, was elected Wednesday with 249 votes out of 342 seats in the parliament (exceeding the two-thirds majority needed; at least four members of the assembly abstained from voting, according to the Daily Times). It wasn’t a huge surprise: Mirza was nominated by the PPP, and they have the largest number of seats in the new parliament, as well as a strategic alliance with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N. The reaction of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q party? "This is a big test and I hope that with the honor that Allah has bestowed upon you, you will be able to live up to expectations," PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said.
Another PPP candidate, Faisal Karim Kundi, was elected deputy speaker of the assembly.
More from the pro-government-leaning newspaper Dawn:
- "Wednesday’s historic election of the first woman as the country’s parliamentary speaker remained clouded by a bitter power struggle within the PPP over its choice of the next prime minister who too must come from the party under its power-sharing agreement with other winners of the Feb 18 general election.
Just after the voting ended in a packed National Assembly hall, the PPP added a new drama to the controversy by announcing that its boy chairman Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, rather than his father and effective leader as co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, would announce the party’s candidate for the post of prime minister.
PPP vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who is also president of the party’s electoral arm of PPP Parliamentarians, told reporters that he continued to be in the race for prime minister undeterred by speculation that the choice of the National Assembly speaker from his home province of Sindh and the deputy speaker from the NWFP could hit his chances in favour of any hopeful from the most populous Punjab province."
And a different concentration from the pro-opposition-leaning Daily Times:
- "Following the NA session, Speaker Dr Mirza told her first press conference that MNAs from both the treasury and opposition benches should work together in harmony. She said that it was the responsibility of everyone in government to play their role in bringing the country out of the crises of terrorism, inflation, power and water shortage.
On the restoration of the judiciary through a parliamentary resolution, she said the members would decide on it. The speaker said a session of the NA could be summoned on a requisition for the election of prime minister. She said that she would like parliament to debate on all major issues and frame a policy."
Needless to say, Mirza takes the reins at a tough time. It will also be interesting to see how the more fundamentalist Islamist elements, which have been trying to gain ground in Pakistan but actually took a hit in 2008 elections, will react to Mirza’s speakership. Heaven knows the last powerful woman of the PPP, Bhutto herself, was perpetually a target of al-Qaida and similar groups in large part due to her gender – and her commitment to secularism and democracy.
MORE: Political turmoil in Pakistan
(Photo: Pakistani government)
Comments
(COMPLAINT)
worthy Speaker,
National Assembly,
Pakistan.
Respected Fehmida Mirza Sahiba,
My name is Rao Jehanzeb Wajid khan s/o Rao Mohammad Aslam (late)
r/o “Ali lodge” New Gulghast Colony, Multan, Pakistan.
My Passport no. is KE937027 . My I.D card no. is 3650210612789 .
I got admission in Napier university, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT in BA (HONS) ACCOUNTING & FINANCE F/T; Year 2. I do recieve certificate of acceptance & un-conditional offer letter from my university. I do get this university through UCAS .My entry date for UK is
29 september 2008.
I do prepare my all relevant documents of student visa for submittion in Gerry’s Feddex Lahore, Pakistan & submitt my tution fee about 6 lac rupees in UK.
I do lost my I.D card , for which i do report in police station & apply for new I.D card in Nadra (NSRC Pakistan). I am still waiting for new I.D card from May 2008.
For my I.D card i do contact several time with my Regional office Multan, but they ever replied me to wait & said that my I.D card is under processing in Nadra Data Ware House, Islamabad, Pakistan. When ever i want to know the reason , they make me lame excuses that computer system of Nadra Data Ware House is disturbed thats why ur I.D is getting late, that due to load shadding of electricity ur I.D is getting late & after that they start saying that after the announcement of primeminister to get I.D card without any fee due to this Nadra Data Ware House get rushed thats why ur I.D is getting late.
In mean time i tried alot to directly access to Director General, Nadra Data Ware House, in Islamabad, even i called him on his official land line no. 051-9207273 & 9201723 and try to put forward my complaint , but he strictly reffuse me to hear any kind of complaint & threat me , if u call again on my no. directly i will put some objection on ur I.D card & said that do contact with ur Regional office. After that i again start contacting with Director Nadra Region, Multan.I do contact with him on his official land line no. 061-9220131 & i also personally met him in his office. He do favour me in my I.D card processing & forward my case to Nadra Data Ware House, Islamabad as a special case.
I do written complaint to Prime minister of Pakistan for Non-issuance of my I.D card from last few months , in reply on 26 june 2008 Prime minister section officer(GR-IV) issued letter to Secretary, Ministry of Interior to be looked into on priority for necessary action under intimation to the petitioner & Prime minister secteriat with in 15 days. One of its copy was sended to me also but there was no such action taken, i again sent 2nd letter to Prime minister with the copy of official letter from P.M secteriat that there was no action taken & requested to issue me my I.D card because i get admission in Napier University, Edinburgh , for my student visa i do need it. On 23rd july 2008 i again recieve copy of Reminder letter to Secretary, Ministry of Intrior from P.M secteriat in which order was passed that ” Action taken may please be intimated to this secteriat” but after that i again don’t get my I.D card. I again sent 3rd letter to P.M Pakistan ( Complaint Against Non Issuance Of I.D card) , in which i do send lose copies of my acceptional letter & my
un-conditional letter of Napier University, Edinburgh & again requested to kindly issue a strict order to Nadra Data ware House, islamabad to issue me my I.D card other wise NSRC Pakistan & Ministry Of Interior were responsible for any mis-chief in my carrier , because i have to submitt my student visa case in UK visa office Lahore & day by day i am getting late , even i recive my acception letter from university on10 april 2008. After that i again approach to Director Nadra Region Multan, he send me in branch office for again regestring new application form for the processing of I.D card on urgent bases on
28 july 2008 & issued me new reciept. My form no. is ML00451248.
In response of 3rd complaint, on 2 august 2008 copy of letter(F.NO.8/11/2008-NADRA) forwarded to me &
P.M secteriat Section Officer (GR-IV) from
(Aamir Ikram) Section Officer (NADRA), Ministry of Interior to the Chairman , National Database & Registration Authority, Nadra Headquarter, Islamabad in which order was passed that
” It is requested that the requisite reply is still awaited which may please be furnished to this ministry at the earliest, please. ” after this i contact with branch office Multan , they told me that there is a objection from islamabad office that your new photograph doesn’t match with the old one, i again contact with Director Nadra Region Multan, he is the one who again personally favour me & after clearing the objection , he send approval to Islamabad office on 8 august 2008 for processing. My this complaint ID is 24097 , i do called Assistant Director(Nazir) Operational Branch Nadra on 051-90391612 for reminding & requesting to issue me my I.D card as soon as possible because i have to apply for student visa & i have no more time to waste, but i am still in waiting list.
Yesterday on 18-8-2008 i do visited Gerry Feddex UK office lahore for submittion of visa application on behalf of Token Reciept & all letters issued to me, but they reffuse to accept my visa application without I.D card. Today is 19 august 2008 & my entry date in University is 29 september 2008.
Respected Madam,
I have really tried alot to get my I.D card , but every thing went in vain. Even i contact with Nadra operational branch Islamabad , but from there Assistant Director (Nazir) also restrict me not to call again on his number & said that when your card get ready, we will send it to your regional office , your card is under processing..
I really appologise to send this detailed E-mail to you but i was left with no choice, kindly do help an orphan to built his Academic carrier by issuing an order to NADRA operational branch to complete processing in 1 or 2 days otherwise Gerry’s Feddex UK visa office Lahore don’t accept my visa application without my I.D card & if i get failed to apply for visa with in 2 or 3 days i must get loss of all of my tution fee (6 lac rupees) . Nadra & Interior Ministry were responsible for all of my loss.
Kindly do me a favour , even i got reserved my seat for Glasgow(UK) on 26 september 2008 from emirate flite , lahore airport.
Awaiting for your reply…
Regards..
Rao Jehanzeb Wajid Khan
s/o
Rao Mohammad Aslam (Late)
r/o
“Ali-Lodge” New Gulghast colony,
Multan.
Cell no. 0322-6022224
Passport no. kE937027
I am having a similar problem where I am trying to get a NICOP cards for my sister. She is due to depart Glasgow to Lahore in less than 2 weeks but we have still not received the card. Inshallah we will get the cards sent by express mail if a family member in Pakistan gets there hands on the card.
hi
6c080qjnadeinp4q
good luck
worthy Speaker,
National Assembly,
Pakistan.
Respected Fehmida Mirza Sahiba,m
i am Javed Ali from Karachi Pakistan. i have big problem about the job i am A/C REF technician in (PVT )COMPANY IN PAKISTAN I WANT OVERSEAS JOB .BECOZE I WANT MY FUTURE . AND GOOD HOSPITALITY MY MOM AND DAD. I HOPE YOU GIVE ME A CHANCE OUT OF COUNTRY IMMIGRATION EUROPEAN OR MIDI LEAST IHOPE YOU REPLY ME SOON THANKS
NAME.. JAVED ALI
S/O .. GUL MOHAMMAD BLOCH
NIC#..42301-4948624-5
PASPORT#MD 1796241
CELL#00923463214281
worthy Speaker,
National Assembly,
Pakistan.
Respected Fehmida Mirza Sahiba,
NO RESPONSE FROM YOUR SIDE I STILL HOPE YOU REPLY ME SOON
BEST REGARD 00923463214281
worthy Speaker,
National Assembly,
Pakistan.
Respected Fehmida Mirza Sahiba,m
i still weating ur answer but i am hope full for ur answer
thanks and regard
May 30, 2009
Worthy Speaker,
National Assembly,
Pakistan.
Respected Madam Fehmida Mirza Sahiba,
SUBJECT: REQUEST REGARDING REGULAIZATION OF
CONTRACTUAL STAFF OF NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR
THE IMPROVEMENT OF WATERCOURSES IN SINDH.
Respected Sir,
With profound respect and regard, we are the contract employees about (2100) working under the National Program for the improvement of watercourses (NPIW) in sindh, since 4 years, avail the opportunity to narrate our genuine submission and hope that after interpretation our efforts towards agriculture development we will be certain justice as we are desperate staff frustrating to be regularized since 2 years and roving, gratifying on the counterfeit statement of the government, so the clause is before your kind authority and generous honour as under.
That, we all were selected purely on merit basis by conducting pre entry test through Bahria / Mehran University, during the year 2005 and 2006 for three years contract period which was now has been extended up to 2010, with the object of improvement of all the watercourses in sindh to save about 30% to 40% water losses due to seepage and wastage.
That we are the employees are well qualified in our fields having qualifications in Agriculture, Civil, Mechanical, Computer Engineering and Masters in Business Administration and Social Sciences.
That we were appointed on different post viz Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors (field) , Assistant Agriculture Engineer , Water Management Officers, Computer Operators, Sub-Engineers, Assistant Accounts Officer ,Office Assistants and other supporting staff on different Government’s prescribed scales according to qualification.
That, we working on war-footing for achievement of targets since last four years(04) and have performed our duties dedicatedly and devotedly since last four years due to our utmost achievement, it was extended up to 30-06-2010.
That the entire staff working under (NPIW) has given best results in the project activities, which is the grace of Almighty Allah for which our conduct and performance has been invariably appreciated.
That we are all qualified persons serving on contract basis and also part and parcel of Government machinery need relief and security of our own and our innocent children’s future.
That we have been successful to secure this contractual job after staying unemployed on account of ban on Government service since last 10 years so most of employees of this department getting overage.
That, about 300 to 305 employees of previous On Farm Water Management (OFWM) project of Agriculture Department have been already accommodate to the regular post during the Year 2004.
That Our Honorable Prime Minister Islamic republic Of Pakistan during his first address to National Assembly had announced that all the public servants who have completed their 3 years of contract will be regularized soon.
That our Honorable President (Mr. Asif Ali Zardari) had also announced on the floor of house that all the contractual staff will be regularized.
That our Chief Minister of Sindh in had directed that all the staff of NPIW will be regularized, in this regards a summary was moved by our Departmental secretary (Agriculture) for the regularization of NPIW staff but still there is no official announcement and conclusion has been made
That the field teams working under the department have completed more than their specified targets by their meticulous efforts and their authenticity with their jobs in four years.
That according to previous status of watercourses it is observed that in thirty years many projects were initiated for the improvement of watercourses and communally only 7000 watercourses could be improved in thirty years , while NPIW staff has completed about 16628 watercourses from 2005 to 01-05-2009 in just four (4) years.
That according to civil service act 1973 “if the contract period is extended once than it is the right of employees to be regularized in order to keep them secure by providing them job sanctuary”. As our project has been extended once and likely to be extended again in the next year.
That according to civil service act 1973 “if the employee completes its three years of contract with honestly, wisdoms and efficiency than it is the right of employee to be regularized.
That according to this program initially, A 30% of lining is improved of total length of the watercourse, if our program is being regularized than total watercourse can be improved to provide the water to tail end farmers.
That we taking the annual increment which is according to law are being given to regular employees of the country hence it also indicates the regularization of the contract.
That according to the report of Planning Commission which has really appreciated the efforts of staff of Sindh, on the achievements of our targets also praised over the maintenance of good quality civil work and also cherished over the steps taken to improve and develop the agriculture sector of Sindh.
That this is the only program, from which the crisis of water in future can be solved, as Pakistan is the country who is facing many conflicts with its neighbor’s countries.
That due to the professionalism and efficiency of merit based staff of NPIW by their vast experiences and social mobilization the farmer of Sindh is getting turnover of crop augmentation and saving water and saved himself from the depletion of water.
That today’s government is taking less interest towards the Agriculture development of country, which has really created discomfort among the farmers and distressed the staff and their innocent families, who really depend upon our only source of income.
In the light of above stated facts we respectfully pray to kind and gracious honour to take action regarding regularization of NPIW staff working in Sindh, since last 4 years and shall be given us chance for regular employment under Sindh service Act 1973.
We are sure that above humble submission will get place in the inner corner of your soft hearing and feeling upon us by providing speedy justice feeling mercy upon us, as we really deserve for regularization and save us from further restlessness, uncertainty, discomfort , insecurity. As for this act of kindness as we are wandering since 4 years, so only one mode of anticipation is now there and hoped that by your instantaneous action the staff of NPIW will be regularized.
Makhdoom Waqar Hussain,
Assistant Director (F),
NPIW, District Sukkur for self
and on behalf of NPIW Staff, Sindh,