Sughra (
Punjabi, ur, سیدہ صغرہ امام) is a
Pakistani politician who was elected from the platform of the
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan People's Party ( ur, , ; PPP) is a centre-left, social-democratic political party in Pakistan. It is currently the third largest party in the National Assembly and second largest in the Senate of Pakistan. The party was founded ...
served from
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
on a reserve seat for women.
Early life and education
Syeda Sughra Imam belongs to a political family. She is the daughter of two politicians,
Syed Fakhar Imam and
Syeda Abida Hussain
Syeda Abida Hussain–Imam ( b. 1948) is a Pakistani conservative politician, diplomat, and socialite on the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League (N).
Born into a feudal family in Pakistan, she served as the Pakistan Ambassador to th ...
, was born on November 14, 1972 in
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest ...
.
Political career
After graduation, she worked at the US based foreign policy think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, and as a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme and other NGOs. She served as chairperson, Zila Council,
Jhang
Jhang (Punjabi, ur, ), ) is the capital city of Jhang District, in the central portion of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Situated on the east bank of the Chenab river, it is the 18th largest city of Pakistan by population.
The histori ...
during 1998-99, and has been elected as Member Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in General Elections 2002. She elected both times by joining the
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan People's Party ( ur, , ; PPP) is a centre-left, social-democratic political party in Pakistan. It is currently the third largest party in the National Assembly and second largest in the Senate of Pakistan. The party was founded ...
.
She was appointed Minister for Social Welfare on 24 November 2003 and resigned on 18 June 2004. She belongs to a well known political family. Her maternal Grandfather Col. Syed Abid Hussain enjoyed the historic distinction of being elected as a Member of the Legislative/Constituent Assembly 1945 of undivided
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
. Col. Abid represented the
Pakistan Muslim League
The Pakistan Muslim League ( ur, ; known as PML), is the name of several different Pakistani political parties that have dominated the right-wing platform in the country.
The Muslim League (a different party) was the party of Pakistan’ ...
in the parliament in
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders wi ...
under the leadership of
Quaid-e-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...
. He also served as Federal Minister Communication & Works (1951–53) in Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suhrahwardy's Cabinet. Sughra's mother took on Col. Abid's mantle, becoming the first women in Pakistan's history to be elected chairperson of a district government, and the first women ever in Pakistan to be elected as a Member of National Assembly. Syeda Abida Hussain, Sughra's mother, remained Member of Punjab Assembly during 1972-77, Member of National Assembly 1985-88, 1988–90, 1997–99, and Pakistan's Ambassador in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
(1991–93). Sughra's father, Syed Fakhar Imam is currently Member National Assembly since 2018, also remained Member of National Assembly during 1985-88, 1990–93, and 1997–99; and served as Speaker of National Assembly during 1985-86. Fakhar Imam is remembered for resigning from his position as Federal Minister on a point of principle.
References
External links
World leaders forum Columbia University participants
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imam, Syeda Sughra
Punjab MPAs 2002–2007
Harvard University alumni
Living people
People from Jhang District
1972 births
Punjabi people
Pakistan Muslim League (N) MPAs (Punjab)
Women members of the Senate of Pakistan
21st-century Pakistani women politicians