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VOL. 31/53 Friday, December 31, 2021 Jumada Al Oula 27, 1443
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Panel Explores Art Exhibit and The Women in For news,
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for Pakistan Sacramento Quaid-i-Azam www.PakistanLink.

n By Dr Syed Amir The Muslim Aide at Hillary Clinton’s Side and love that she had been miss-

ing thus far. The fact that she was a
Bethesda, MD practicing Muslim did not matter to
Weiner and he was very supportive
uma Abedin, a top aide to of her faith, occasionally fasting in
Hilary Clinton, relates the Ramzan to keep company with her.
Hstory, in her newly pub- Already in her early thirties, she fell
lished memoir (Both/And; pub- hopelessly in love. They were mar-

lished by Simon and ried in an informal Muslim ceremo-
Schuster) of Clin- ny with the Abedin family in atten-
ton’s visit to Paki- dance and in a more elaborate one
stan when she was hosted and presided over by former
the US Secretary of president Bill Clinton.
State (2009-2013) That time was blissful, and life

under President seemed to have given Abedin every-

Barack Obama. The entire US del- thing she desired until a bomb shell
egation accompanying the secre- fell. A New York tabloid broke the
tary was invited to a state dinner story that Weiner had been sending
at the presidential palace in Islam- unsolicited pictures of himself, with
abad. While introducing Abedin varying levels of undress, with sala-
to President Asif Ali Zardari, Clin- cious messages, to women he had
ton mentioned that Huma was re- met online. Initially, he denied that
cently engaged to marry. Zardari he was the real sender, but later con-
unknowingly quipped, “I hope to fessed that he indeed was. The news

a nice Pakistani boy.” There was a aroused a public outrage, with Con-

brief moment of unease, as Abe- gressional leaders demanding that
din was in fact engaged to New he resign from Congress. Expect-
York’s Jewish Congressman, An- ing a child, the reported incidents
thony Weiner. caused great trauma and anguish to
Abedin is the daughter of an Abedin. The family was hounded

Indian Muslim, Syed Zainul Abe- ents from South Asia, growing up litely escorted to the women’s sec- quisite, where mango lassi tastes like day and night by press photogra-
din, and Pakistani mother, Saleha in Saudi Arabia, and her life as an tion. manna from heaven and where I ate phers. Initially not realizing the
Mahmoud, both scholars. Mr Abe- American citizen who was privi- Abedin had had the opportu- and ate and still weight fell off me.” gravity of the situation, she attempt-

din was an eminent Islamic and leged to observe history in the mak- nity to attend numerous state din- The book abounds in illuminat- ed to defend her husband whom she
Middle Eastern scholar, who was ing from a vantage point. ners in many countries as Clinton’s ing stories. In one such episodes, she continued to love.
educated at the famous Aligarh Abedin relates a number of special aide. However, when she describes the official visit to see King Weiner was finally forced to re-

Muslim University and excelled in interesting anecdotes drawn from was invited to an Iftar and dinner Abdullah who was to receive US sign from Congress in disgrace. The

the equestrian team. Later, he ob- her experience as Clinton’s senior party at the White House, hosted by Secretary Clinton in his Bedouoin forthright description of this period
tained his PhD at the University of aide. She narrates an enlightening President Obama, for Muslim am- tent in Riyadh. It was a facade as, and the mental anguish that she suf-
Pennsylvania in the US. He spent story about an occasion when she bassadors, Congressmen and other from inside, the tent looked no dif- fered is incredibly touching. Abedin

some time teaching in Saudi Arabia accompanied President Clinton on high officials, and seated alongside ferent from a plush palace audience frantically wanted to believe that

and founded the Institute of Mus- a visit to Saudi Arabia. The presi- the president, she felt immense hall. When dinner was served, it was her marriage could be salvaged.

lim Minority Affairs with offices in dent was invited in 2002 to address pride and exhilaration and a special a spectacle, a huge table burdened Yet Weiner’s reckless conduct was a

Saudi Arabia and London. the Jeddah Economic Forum and bond with Muslim dignitaries pres- with all kinds of exotic and Western symptom of a deep-seated sickness
Huma was born in Kalama- she was asked to be part of the del- ent, describing them as “my people.” dishes, and Clinton was expected to which could not be cured when the

zoo, Michigan, but moved to Jed- egation. These were the days when President Obama praised the Mus- taste all of them. She ate until she family sought counselling. It only
dah, Saudi Arabia, when her par- strict gender segregation was prac- lim Americans who were making could no more, then found out that got worse. In May 2017, a photo-

ents relocated there. She was two ticed in Saudi Arabia. However, the great contributions in many fields there were two more dishes that graph appeared on the front page
years old at the time and spent a hosts were informed in advance that in America, especially citing Huma were yet to come. of a New York newspaper in which

significant part of childhood there. it was important for the US presi- Abedin for her distinguished ser- The section of the book that Weiner was shown sexting a photo-
Her parents were devoted Muslims dent that women be included in vice. deals with the author’s whirlwind graph of himself to a minor female,

and Huma claims to be a practic- the conference, and he was assured Abedin expresses special affec- romantic relationship with Anthony while their young son slept nearby.

ing Muslim and proud of her faith. that they would be. Nevertheless, an tion for Pakistan where most of her Weiner, their marriage, and later its Furious and desperate, Abedin filed
She has long been associated with embarrassing situation arose when relatives live. She states, “In Pakistan breakdown, is truly sad and heart- for divorce from Weiner shortly

Hillary Clinton, starting as a trainee the president was greeted on his ar- every visit unearthed a new discov- breaking. Huma Abedin was lead- after he pleaded guilty in a federal
intern at the White House when the rival at the conference by all male ery, whether visiting the tree-lined, ing a very hectic life as a senior aide court and was convicted and sent to

former was the first lady, rising to officials dressed in thobes. Abedin, wide avenues at one aunt’s house at to Hilary Clinton and although she prison for 21 months.

become deputy chief of staff when knowing the cultural norms, held Islamabad, manicured and quiet, or met a lot of important people there The book is highly readable

Clinton was secretary of state. In the back until Clinton called her, “Come the hustle and bustle of Karachi.” She was scant chance of finding a suit- and apparently not ghost-written, as

course of her long association with on Huma,” as he walked through a mentions with pride her great uncle, able marriage partner until An- often is the case with political biog-

Clinton, Abedin travelled exten- male only entrance. She relates that Admiral S. M. Ahsan, who rose to thony Weiner, the young Congress- raphies. The reader is left with two

sively and met many world leaders she could feel the men’s discomfort, become Commander in Chief of the man from New York, a rising star in puzzling questions: Why a person as
and observed them closely. In her “furtively looking away or simply Pakistan Navy under Ayub Khan. the Democratic Party, appeared on gifted as Huma Abedin never tried

memoirs, she explores her multiple ignoring me.” There was little else She traces her affection for Pakistan the scene. He assiduously courted to strive for a more independent
identities as a child of Muslim par- they could do. Shortly, she was po- as a place “where sugary tea is ex- Abedin, offering all the attention HUMA, P28

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