Fahmida Mirza
Encyclopedia
Dr. Fahmida Mirza sometimes also spelled as Fehmida Mirza (born December 20, 1956), is a medical doctor, agriculturist and businesswoman from Hyderabad
, Sindh
, Pakistan
who was elected as the first female Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
on March 19, 2008. She is also the first female parliamentary speaker in the Muslim world
.
She has been elected to Parliament for three consecutive terms in 1997, 2002 and 2008 as MNA from Badin
, in Sindh
. Dr. Mirza graduated with a medical degree from Liaquat Medical College
, Jamshoro
, Sindh
, in 1982 and did her house job in gynaecology
and paediatrics.
-speaking Muslim political family in Sindh, the Mughal Qazis of Sindh. Her grandfather, Qazi Abdul Qayyum, was the first Muslim president of Hyderabad (Latifabad) Sindh Municipality. Her father, Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid
(Qazi Abid) held different ministries in the provincial (Sindh
) and federal cabinets from 1982 to 1990 including Provincial Minister for Communication, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Federal Minister for Education, and Federal Minister for Water and Power. Her Uncle, Qazi Mohammad Akbar, was also a long serving Provincial Minister in Sindh, including serving as Provincial Home Minister.
Mirza is the aunt of Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq
, a three time Provincial Sindh Minister and current member and leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Sindh Provincial Assembly, who is related to the influential Sindhi political family through his mother. Pir Mazhar is currently the Senior Minister in the Sindh Cabinet with the portfolio of Education.
, Sindh
, in 1982. Before entering politics, Dr. Fahmida Mirza ran an advertising agency Informachine, later renamed Information Communication Limited (ICL). In 1997 she contested elections successfully from her husband's former constituency of Badin
, Sindh
, and has continued to be a parliamentarian since then. She is one of the few women elected from a non-reserved constituency.
, a close friend of Asif Ali Zardari
, the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party
. Both her husband and her brother, the renowned journalist, Qazi Asad Abid, are former Members of the National Assembly. Zulfikar Mirza is also currently a member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly and was former Provincial Home Minister.
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Hyderabad, Sindh
is the second largest city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the seventh largest city in the country. The city was founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro upon the ruins of a Mauryan fishing village along the bank of the Indus known as Neroon Kot...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
who was elected as the first female Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
on March 19, 2008. She is also the first female parliamentary speaker in the Muslim world
Muslim world
The term Muslim world has several meanings. In a religious sense, it refers to those who adhere to the teachings of Islam, referred to as Muslims. In a cultural sense, it refers to Islamic civilization, inclusive of non-Muslims living in that civilization...
.
She has been elected to Parliament for three consecutive terms in 1997, 2002 and 2008 as MNA from Badin
Badin
Badin is the main city and capital of Badin District in Sindh, Pakistan. It lies east of the Indus River. The region is swampy, fertile for growing rice. Some oil fields are located near the town in the seasonally inundated Rann of Kutch region...
, in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. Dr. Mirza graduated with a medical degree from Liaquat Medical College
Liaquat University of Medical Health Sciences
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences is a degree awarding institution in Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. The University is currently ranked No.2 after Aga Khan University in HEC rankings for Medical Universities. -External links:* *...
, Jamshoro
Jamshoro
Jamshoro is a city in Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. It is located on the right bank of Indus River, approximately 18 kilometres north-west of the city of Hyderabad and 150 kilometres north-east from the provincial capital Karachi....
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, in 1982 and did her house job in gynaecology
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
and paediatrics.
Early life
Fahmida Mirza hails from a SindhiSindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
-speaking Muslim political family in Sindh, the Mughal Qazis of Sindh. Her grandfather, Qazi Abdul Qayyum, was the first Muslim president of Hyderabad (Latifabad) Sindh Municipality. Her father, Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid
Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid
Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid or Qazi Abid , as he was known, was a prominent politician and journalist from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Qazi Abid held several positions in the Federal Cabinet of numerous Pakistani Prime Ministers...
(Qazi Abid) held different ministries in the provincial (Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
) and federal cabinets from 1982 to 1990 including Provincial Minister for Communication, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Federal Minister for Education, and Federal Minister for Water and Power. Her Uncle, Qazi Mohammad Akbar, was also a long serving Provincial Minister in Sindh, including serving as Provincial Home Minister.
Mirza is the aunt of Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq
Pir Mazhar Ul Haq
Pir Mazhar Ul Haq is a politician in Pakistan who is considered one of the most loyal members of the Pakistan Peoples Party having offered many sacrifices for the party...
, a three time Provincial Sindh Minister and current member and leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Sindh Provincial Assembly, who is related to the influential Sindhi political family through his mother. Pir Mazhar is currently the Senior Minister in the Sindh Cabinet with the portfolio of Education.
Career
She was trained as a doctor at Liaquat Medical College, JamshoroJamshoro
Jamshoro is a city in Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. It is located on the right bank of Indus River, approximately 18 kilometres north-west of the city of Hyderabad and 150 kilometres north-east from the provincial capital Karachi....
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, in 1982. Before entering politics, Dr. Fahmida Mirza ran an advertising agency Informachine, later renamed Information Communication Limited (ICL). In 1997 she contested elections successfully from her husband's former constituency of Badin
Badin
Badin is the main city and capital of Badin District in Sindh, Pakistan. It lies east of the Indus River. The region is swampy, fertile for growing rice. Some oil fields are located near the town in the seasonally inundated Rann of Kutch region...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, and has continued to be a parliamentarian since then. She is one of the few women elected from a non-reserved constituency.
Personal life
Dr. Mirza is married to Dr. Zulfiqar MirzaZulfiqar Mirza
Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza is a leader and politician who is affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party. He hails from thedistrict Badin, Hyderabad. He did his graduation from LMC Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Sindh. He is married to Dr. Fahmida Mirza who was elected as the first female Speaker of the National...
, a close friend of Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
, the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
. Both her husband and her brother, the renowned journalist, Qazi Asad Abid, are former Members of the National Assembly. Zulfikar Mirza is also currently a member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly and was former Provincial Home Minister.
See also
- Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples PartyThe Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
- Politics of PakistanPolitics of PakistanPolitics of Pakistan have taken place in the framework of a federal republic, where the system of government has at times been parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential. In the current parliamentary system, the President of Pakistan is the largely ceremonial head of state, the Prime...
- Pir Mazhar Ul HaqPir Mazhar Ul HaqPir Mazhar Ul Haq is a politician in Pakistan who is considered one of the most loyal members of the Pakistan Peoples Party having offered many sacrifices for the party...
- Marvi MazharMarvi MazharMarvi Mazhar was a member of Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh Assembly in 2003 to 2008. She was elected from PS-74 Dadu-IV in Dadu, Sindh, Pakistan. Marvi Mazhar is the daughter of Pir Mazhar Ul Haq the parliamentary leader of Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh Assembly and present Senior Minister...
- Qazi Abdul Majeed AbidQazi Abdul Majeed AbidQazi Abdul Majeed Abid or Qazi Abid , as he was known, was a prominent politician and journalist from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Qazi Abid held several positions in the Federal Cabinet of numerous Pakistani Prime Ministers...
- Qazis of HyderabadQazis of HyderabadThe Qazis of Hyderabad, Sindh are an established Pakistani and Sindhi political family from Hyderabad, Sindh. Most, though not all, members of the family that were in politics were known by their title, Qazi, which is the name given to certain Judges under Islamic Law, instead of their last...
External links
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