KABUL, March 20: Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed on Thursday appointment of a woman as speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time in the country’s 60-year history, his office said.

The National Assembly on Wednesday elected Fehmida Mirza, 52, as speaker.

“Hamid Karzai congratulates the election of Mirza to head parliament and wishes under her leadership it achieves further successes,” a statement from Karzai’s office said.—AFP