The Hindu : Front Page : Pakistan poised to elect woman as Speaker

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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Pakistan poised to elect woman as Speaker

Nirupama Subramanian

Makhdoom Amin Fahim says he suggested Zardari take up premiership

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in its history, Pakistan’s new National Assembly is poised to elect a woman Speaker on Wednesday.

The Pakistan People’s Party on Tuesday nominated Fehmida Mirza, a stalwart of the party and third-time member of the National Assembly, as its candidate.

But speculation continued on the premiership. Emerging from a dinner meeting with PPP leader Asif Zardari on Monday, party deputy chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim said he had suggested to Mr. Zardari that he take up the post.

Mr. Fahim told reporters that Mr. Zardari said he would think about it. Mr. Fahim further said he would fully back Mr. Zardari as Prime Minister and would not support anyone else for the slot.

In the election for Speaker, the 52-year-old Dr. Mirza, who belongs to an influential political family from the Sindh province, is certain to sail through on the combined strength of the PPP and its allies.

The medical practitioner has entered Parliament not through the seats reserved for women, but she contested and won all three times from a general constituency. Her husband, Zulfiqar Mirza, is also in the National Assembly

For Deputy Speaker, the PPP nominated Feisal Karim Kundi, a youngster who defeated Jamiat-e-Ulema Islami leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the North West Frontier Province constituency of Dera Ismail Khan.

“A huge responsibility”

“I would work with sincerity and over and above party affiliation,” Dr. Mirza told journalists after filing her nomination. “Let me assure you, I would take along all political forces in the House.” She described her nomination as a “historic decision” and “a huge responsibility” vested in her by her party and the coalition.

The Speaker will play a crucial role in the coming months with most analysts seeing a confrontation looming ahead between Parliament and the President.

In another development, Pakistani media reported that Ijaz Shah, a retired brigadier who headed the Intelligence Bureau, stepped down ahead of the PPP-PML(N) government taking office.

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