Farahnaz Ispahani
| Honorable Right Farahnaz Ispahani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Media Advisor and Spokeswoman of the President of Pakistan | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 9 September 2008 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Yousaf Raza Gillani |
| Preceded by | Major-General Rashid Qureshi |
| Member of Parliament to the Pakistan Parliament | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 19th, 2008 | |
| Constituency | Sindh-XI |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Farahnaz Ispahani Karachi, Pakistan |
| Citizenship | Pakistan, USA |
| Nationality | Pakistani, USA |
| Political party | Pakistan People's Party (PPP) |
| Spouse(s) | Husain Haqqani |
| Residence | Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory |
| Alma mater | Wellesley College (B.Sc.) |
| Profession | Media Administrator and Political scientist |
| Committees | Member, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs, and the Human Rights Committee |
| Religion | Islam |
Farahnaz Ispahani (Urdu: فرحناز اصفهانی) is a Pakistani politician. She belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party. She was elected as member of the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 19, 2008 and served until 2012. She is currently the Media Advisor to Co-Chairman PPP, President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari. She is also PPP International Media Coordinator and chairperson for Pakistan Peoples Party Scholars Wing. She is married to Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, and is the granddaughter of Pakistan's first ambassador to the United States, Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani.[1] Her uncle, Zia Ispahani has also served as a politician and former ambassador for Pakistan. Ispahani was born in Karachi, and grew up in Karachi, Dhaka and London. She graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, majoring in political science.
Professional career
Ispahani spent two decades in journalism—both print and television—before entering politics. She worked in broadcasting, working with MSNBC, CNN, (ABC) and (VOA) assisting in the launch of new programs including CNN's Paula Zahn Now and Anderson Cooper 360°. In addition, she served as the Managing Editor and Executive Producer for the Voice of America Urdu language television program Beyond the Headlines.[2] She served as Editor Special Reports for the leading Pakistani news magazine The Herald, and was the Editor of Zameen, a magazine oriented toward Pakistanis living abroad. She is a regular contributor in The News, Pakistan's second largest English-language newspaper, Express Tribune and Daily Times.
Political career
In 2006, Ispahani working for the Pakistan Peoples Party under then-chair Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in its media relations department. She is Media Advisor to the Co-Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, Asif Ali Zardari.[3]
In early 2008, she took a reserved seat for women in Pakistan's parliament as a member from the Pakistan Peoples Party, representing the Sindh province,[4] and also serves as a spokesperson for President Zardari. She is a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs, and the Human Rights Committee.[4][5] In late May 2012, the Supreme Court suspended her National Assembly membership due to her dual possession of American nationality.[6] Ms. Ispahani was also chosen by Foreign Policy as a Top 100 Global Thinker for 2012
References
- ↑ Richter, Paul (2008-10-24). "A Pakistani diplomat's delicate mission". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ http://www.voanews.com/english/About/2005-11-10-voa69.cfm
- ↑ "Zardari has proved his mettle in a year: Farahnaz". Daily Times. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?198177
- ↑ "Press Release". Press Information Department, Government of Pakistan. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ↑ "SC suspends Farahnaz's NA membership". The News. 25 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.