:Fahmida Mirza

{{Short description|Pakistani politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Fahmida Mirza

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Fehmida_Mizra_2.png

| office = Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination

| term_start = 20 August 2018

| term_end = 10 April 2022

| president = Mamnoon Hussain
Arif Alvi

| primeminister = Imran Khan

| predecessor = Muhammad Azam Khan (caretaker)

| office1 = 18th Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan

| deputy1 = Faisal Karim Kundi

| term_start1 = 19 March 2008

| term_end1 = 3 June 2013

| predecessor1 = Chaudhry Amir Hussain

| successor1 = Ayaz Sadiq

| office2 = Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan

| term_start2 = 13 August 2018

| term_end2 = 10 August 2023

| constituency2 = NA-230 (Badin-II)

| term_start3 = 1 June 2013

| term_end3 = 31 May 2018

| constituency3 = NA-225 (Badin-II)

| term_start4 = 17 March 2008

| term_end4 = 16 March 2013

| constituency4 = NA-225 (Badin-II)

| term_start5 = 16 November 2002

| term_end5 = 15 November 2007

| constituency5 = NA-225 (Badin-II)

| term_start6 = 14 February 1997

| term_end6 = 12 October 1999

| constituency6 = NA-173 (Badin-II)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|12|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Badin, Sindh, Pakistan

| party = GDA (2018–present)

| otherparty = PPP (1997–2018)

| alma_mater = Liaquat University

| spouse = Zulfiqar Mirza

| father = Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid

| children = Hasnain Mirza (son)

| relations = Zafar Hussain Mirza (father-in-law)

| nationality = {{flag|Pakistan|name=Pakistani}}

| caption = Mirza in 2012

| native_name_lang = ur

| native_name = {{nobold|فہمیدہ مرزا}}

}}

Fahmida Mirza ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|فہمیدہ مرزا}}}}; born 20 December 1956) is a Pakistani politician who was Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, in office from 20 August 2018 until 10 April 2022. She served as the 18th and only woman Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan from March 2008 to June 2013.

Previously, she was a member of the National Assembly from 1997 to 1999, 2002 to May 2018 and from August 2018 to August 2023.

Early life and education

Mirza was born on 20 December 1956{{cite news|title=If elections are held on time…|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/627547-if-elections-are-held-on-time|access-date=15 May 2017|work=www.thenews.com.pk|date=31 December 2012|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912161259/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/627547-if-elections-are-held-on-time|archive-date=12 September 2017}}{{cite web|title=Detail Information|url=http://www.pildat.org/mna/rsDetail.asp?detid=225|access-date=11 July 2017|date=21 April 2014|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421150439/http://www.pildat.org/mna/rsDetail.asp?detid=225|archive-date=21 April 2014}} in Karachi to Qazi Abdul Majeed Abid.{{cite news|title=Sindhi speaker seals fate of Fahim|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/656011-sindhi-speaker-seals-fate-of-fahim|access-date=15 May 2017|work=www.thenews.com.pk|date=19 March 2008|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822134841/https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/656011-sindhi-speaker-seals-fate-of-fahim|archive-date=22 August 2017}} She belongs to an influential political family of Sindh. Mirza is married to Zulfiqar Mirza. She has two sons and two daughters.

Mirza did her schooling from St Mary's Convent in Hyderabad in 1972. She is a medical graduate{{cite news|last1=Wasim|first1=Amir|title=PPP names Fahmida for post of NA speaker|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/294282/ppp-names-fahmida-for-post-of-na-speaker|access-date=15 May 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=18 March 2008|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822135725/https://www.dawn.com/news/294282/ppp-names-fahmida-for-post-of-na-speaker|archive-date=22 August 2017}} and did her MBBS from Liaquat Medical College in Jamshoro in 1982. She is an agriculturist and businesswoman by profession. She was chief executive of a Karachi-based advertising company{{cite news|title=A glance at Sindh's female election hopefuls|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/812505|access-date=15 May 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=7 May 2013|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304035643/https://www.dawn.com/news/812505|archive-date=4 March 2017}} and the chief executive officer of the Mirza Sugar Mills.

Political career

Mirza joined Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1997 and was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PPP from Constituency NA-173 (Badin-II) in 1997 Pakistani general election.{{cite news|last1=Wasim|first1=Amir|title=First 'madam speaker' takes oath today|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/294358|access-date=15 May 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=19 March 2008|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822134209/https://www.dawn.com/news/294358|archive-date=22 August 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Newspaper|first1=the|title=Seat vacated by Mirza a tough call for Zardari|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/668065|access-date=15 May 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=21 October 2011|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822134308/https://www.dawn.com/news/668065|archive-date=22 August 2017}}{{cite web |title=11th National Assembly |url=http://www.na.gov.pk/uploads/former-members/11th%20National%20Assembly.pdf |publisher=National Assembly of Pakistan |access-date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209012150/http://www.na.gov.pk/uploads/former-members/11th%20National%20Assembly.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-09 |url-status=live }}

She was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PPP from Constituency NA-225 (Badin-II) in 2002 Pakistani general election. She received 71,537 votes and defeated Khan Mohammad Halipota, a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q).{{cite web |title=2002 election result - NA |url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Election%202002/National.pdf |publisher=ECP |access-date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122090015/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Election%202002/National.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-22 |url-status=live }}

She was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PPP from Constituency NA-225 (Badin-cum-Tando Muhammad Khan-II) in 2008 Pakistani general election. She received 88,983 votes and defeated Bibi Yasmeen Shah, a candidate of PML-Q.{{cite web |title=2008 election result |url=https://www.ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf |publisher=ECP |access-date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105060230/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202008/Report,%20General%20Election%202008,%20Vol-II.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-05 |url-status=live }}

In March 2008, she was elected as the 18th and first women Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.{{cite news|title=Woman elected Pakistani speaker|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7304499.stm|access-date=15 May 2017|work=news.bbc.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225221046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7304499.stm|archive-date=25 February 2017}} She received 249 votes and defeated her opponent Muhammad Israr Tareen who secured 70 votes.{{cite news |last1=Asghar |first1=Raja |title=NA elects first woman speaker by two-thirds majority |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/294575 |access-date=1 September 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=20 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214124456/https://www.dawn.com/news/294575 |archive-date=2017-12-14 |url-status=live }}

She was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PPP from Constituency (Badin-cum-Tando Muhammad Khan-II) in 2013 Pakistani general election.{{cite news|title=Pakistan General Elections 2013 – Detailed results|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1026929|access-date=3 March 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=12 May 2013|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201624/https://www.dawn.com/news/1026929|archive-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite news|title=Dr Fehmida Mirza wins from Badin's NA-225|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1026911|access-date=15 May 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=11 May 2013|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822135709/https://www.dawn.com/news/1026911|archive-date=22 August 2017}} She received 110,738 votes and defeated Bibi Yasmeen Shah, a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (F) (PML-F).{{cite web |title=2013 election result |url=https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf |publisher=ECP |access-date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201140612/https://ecp.gov.pk/Documents/General%20Elections%202013%20report/Election%20Report%202013%20Volume-II.pdf |archive-date=2018-02-01 |url-status=live }}

In May 2018, she quit PPP, saying that "the PPP government caused deteriorating conditions in Sindh and ignored the people of Badin".{{Cite web|date=2018-05-19|title=Former NA speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza quits PPP|url=https://thefrontierpost.com/former-na-speaker-dr-fehmida-mirza-quits-ppp/|access-date=2020-09-26|website=The Frontier Post|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She announced to join a party which providing basic facilities to the people of her constituency, Badin.{{cite news |title=Dr Fehmida Mirza leaves PPP |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/05/19/dr-fehmida-mirza-leaves-ppp-with-sheer-resent/ |access-date=1 September 2018 |work=www.pakistantoday.com.pk}} In June 2018, she joined Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).{{cite news |title=Fehmida, Zulfiqar Mirza join Grand Democratic Alliance, slam PPP - Daily Times |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/248373/fehmida-zulfiqar-mirza-join-grand-democratic-alliance-slam-ppp/ |access-date=3 June 2018 |work=Daily Times |date=3 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145701/https://dailytimes.com.pk/248373/fehmida-zulfiqar-mirza-join-grand-democratic-alliance-slam-ppp/ |archive-date=2018-07-27 |url-status=live }}

In June 2018, both Mirza and her husband Zulfiqar Mirza were declared loan defaulters by the State Bank of Pakistan. It was noted that the couple used political influence to obtain millions of loans from different banks which were later written-off.{{cite news |title=Dr Mirza, wife declared loan defaulter by State Bank - The Frontier Post |url=https://thefrontierpost.com/dr-mirza-wife-declared-loan-defaulter-by-state-bank/ |access-date=19 September 2018 |work=The Frontier Post |date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=19 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919171956/https://thefrontierpost.com/dr-mirza-wife-declared-loan-defaulter-by-state-bank/ |url-status=dead }}

She was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of GDA from Constituency NA-230 (Badin-II) in 2018 Pakistani general election.{{cite news |title=GDA's Fehmida Mirza wins NA-230 election |url=https://www.app.com.pk/gdas-fehmida-mirza-wins-na-230-election/ |access-date=3 August 2018 |work=Associated Press Of Pakistan |date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803223848/https://www.app.com.pk/gdas-fehmida-mirza-wins-na-230-election/ |archive-date=2018-08-03 |url-status=live }}

On 18 August, Imran Khan formally announced his federal cabinet structure and Mirza was named as Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination.{{cite news |title=PM Imran Khan finalises names of 21-member cabinet |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1427792/pm-imran-khan-finalises-names-of-21-member-cabinet |access-date=18 August 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818175537/https://www.dawn.com/news/1427792/pm-imran-khan-finalises-names-of-21-member-cabinet |archive-date=2018-08-18 |url-status=live }} On 20 August 2018, she was sworn in as Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan.{{cite news |title=16 ministers from PM Imran Khan's cabinet sworn in |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1428169/16-ministers-from-pm-imran-khans-cabinet-sworn-in |access-date=20 August 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=20 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820061352/https://www.dawn.com/news/1428169/16-ministers-from-pm-imran-khans-cabinet-sworn-in |archive-date=2018-08-20 |url-status=live }}

References