Former Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman appointed Pakistan’s Ambassador in USA

Former Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman was on 23 November 2011 designated to become Pakistan’s next Ambassador in the U.S. She succeeded Husain Haqqani who resigned over the Memogate controversy.

Her selection for the post announced by the Prime Minister’s was perceived by analysts as a sign of consensus between the civil and military leadership of the country after a tense week that followed the Memogate controversy.

Rehman’s appointment was criticised by the Sunni Tehreek on the premise that she is not fair to either Islam or her country. The organisation also accused her of pursuing Jewish and American policies. A petition was also filed in the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court against Rehman’s appointment as Ambassador on the plea that she had committed blasphemy.

Following the assassination of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Rehman faced a grave threat to her life with a fatwa being issued against her.

Sherry Rehman

Sherry Rehman has been a close associate of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Rehman was a journalist before she joined politics.
 
A key minister when the current dispensation took charge, she resigned from the Cabinet over the issue of restrictions on the media. She chaired Track-II dialogue processes with India twice. She launched the think-tank Jinnah Institute which, according to some analysts, is closely aligned with the military position on strategic matters while at the same time taking up issues regarding minority communities and their rights.