Pakistan appoints Sherry Rehman as new Ambassador to U.S.

[News_Editor]

Pakistan appoints Sherry Rehman as new Ambassador to U.S.

2011-11-24 16:21:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday appointed Sherry Rehman as the new ambassador to the United States, one day after Husain Haqqani's resignation.

Rehman, 50, of Karachi, a journalist who graduated from Smith college and the University of Sussex, had been previously appointed by Gilani as Information and Broadcasting Minister on March 31, 2008. However, she resigned in less than a year on March 14, 2009, opposing President Asif Ali Zardari's strict restrictions on the media.

As a Member of the National Assembly, Rehman also previously served as the Central Information Secretary from 2002 to 2007 and as the President of Policy Planning for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Prior to her appointment, Rehman met with Gilani to discuss her diplomatic assignments.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said it noted the Pakistani government's announcement through press reports and said "we certainly look forward to working together with [Rehman] as we continue to build a strong, cooperative relationship between our two countries."

Toner also expressed appreciation for Haqqani's "strong support for U.S.-Pakistan relations throughout his tenure," underlining, however, that the United States had not yet received formal notification from the Government of Pakistan with respect to Haqqani's resignation and the appointment of Rehman.

Controversy began surrounding Haqqani after the Financial Times published an article about a memo addressed to former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, in which help is requested from the United States amid fears of a military takeover in Pakistan.

The article was published by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz on October 10, explaining that the memo was allegedly conveyed to Mullen by Haqqani and sent from Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari about one week after al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed during May's U.S. raid in Pakistan. The memo described a "dangerous devolution of the ground situation in Islamabad where no control appears to be in place."

It added that the Asian country could become a sanctuary to Osama bin Laden's legacy and a potential platform for "far more rapid spread of al-Qaeda's brand of fanaticism and terror." The memo purportedly offered the U.S. an increased role in Pakistan's internal affairs by replacing government officials with those who would comply with U.S. demands if the U.S. helped prevent a possible military takeover of the Pakistani government.

According to media reports, Haqqani had been asked to resign in order for investigations to be carried out transparently. Haqqani, who served as Pakistan's Ambassador to the U.S. since April 2008, has denied the allegations of delivering the memo.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-24

[sbk]

Pointless post removed, nobody is forcing you to read an article you have no interest in.

[maidu]

the name 'Sherry Rehman' doesn't sound very Pakstani. Perhaps she's a farang wife of a Pakistani man. Oh well, good luck Ms Rehman. Lots of work to be done on both sides of the fence. Despite the ongoing Wikileaks threat hanging over all diplomatic interactions, hopefully she will develop refreshingly candid and honest communications with her US counterparts - as opposed to the traditionally guarded and veiled communication that's become so entrenched. Indeed, throughout the whole middle east, there needs to be open and frank discussions on all issues. The age of shadows, secrets and innuendo should be a thing of the past.

[Jingthing]

Nope, Shahrbano Rahman is quite Pakistani.

[endure]

Nope, Shahrbano Rahman is quite Pakistani.

That's right. It's not very difficult:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherry_Rehman