News
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Sherry takes the mantleISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday appointed former information minister Sherry Rehman as new ambassador to the US, only a day after the resignation of former ambassador Husain Haqqani over the controversial ‘memogate’ scandal.
According to an announcement by the Prime Minister’s House, Sherry Rehman will replace Haqqani, who was asked by Prime Minister Gilani on Tuesday to resign from his post on the issue of the controversial memo. Earlier, Sherry called on the prime minister at the PM House and discussed matters relating to her diplomatic assignments. Sherry currently heads the Pakistan Red Crescent Society. She has a 20-year journalistic experience, and has served as a member of Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors.
As a politician, she served in various capacities, including as Central Information Secretary of Pakistan People’s Party, and is author of five bills on women empowerment, ‘honour’ killings, domestic violence prevention bill, affirmative action bill and Hudood Repeal bill. She co-chairs several track-two strategic dialogues with India, and is convener of a similar institutionalised dialogue process between Pakistan and Afghanistan later this year. She lectures widely on strategic security challenges facing Pakistan, and is a key member of the Legislative Councils that govern both Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The US on Wednesday said it looked forward to working with Sherry Rehman on enhancing bilateral relationship. “We certainly look forward to working together with her as we continue to build a strong cooperative relationship between the two countries,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said at the daily briefing. Toner though said the State Department has not yet received a formal notification in this regard. tanveer ahmed/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk