March 19, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 18: Dr Fehmida Mirza of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is all set to become the 18th speaker of the National Assembly and first woman to hold this office in the country’s parliamentary history.

Announcing the candidature of Dr Mirza as the speaker, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said it would be for the first time that the chair would be addressed as “Madam Speaker”, another first added by the PPP to the political lexicon.

Hailing from an influential political family of Sindh,

Dr Mirza, 51, swept three consecutive elections on general seat of the National Assembly from Badin in 1997, 2002 and 2008.

She did her matriculation from St Mary’s Convent, Hyderabad, in 1972 and passed MBBS from Liaqut Medical College, Jamshoro, in 1982. She has been organising voluntary medical camps in Badin district since 1989. She is also the chief executive officer of the Mirza Sugar Mills.

Dr Mirza’s grandfather Qazi Abdul Qayyum was the first Muslim president of Hyderabad Municipality. Her uncle Qazi Muhammad Akbar was a member of the provincial assembly and served as a minister of home, finance, public works and information at various times. Her father Qazi Abid started his political career as chairman Hyderabad Division Council, later served as federal minister for education, water and power, food and agriculture and information.