ISLAMABAD: Sherry Rehman has become the first female leader of the opposition in the Senate, the upper house of the Pakistani parliament.
In a message posted on Twitter on March 22, shortly after the announcement of her new role, the senator thanked her party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and all those who had supported her campaign.
“Thank you to my party leadership, Chairman @BBhuttoZardari, Pres. Zardari and opposition parties that reposed confidence in me,” she wrote. “Thank you to colleagues from FATA and Balochistan, as well as ANP and BNP(M) who have supported all the way. I look forward to working with all opposition.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of the PPP, tweeted: “First woman opposition leader in the senate. #PPP #WeMakeHistory Congratulations @sherryrehman.”
Rehman was born on December 21, 1960, in Karachi. She was Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2013.
On March 12, Sadiq Sanjrani, an independent senator from Balochistan, was elected chairman of the senate, backed by the PPP and other opposition parties. PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwala was elected deputy chairman.
Rehman becomes first female opposition leader in Pakistani Senate
Rehman becomes first female opposition leader in Pakistani Senate
Saudi defense delegation visits Pakistan’s foreign office for diplomatic briefing
- Delegation briefed on Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities and bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia
- Visit reflects close defense cooperation, including a bilateral security pact signed last year
ISLAMABAD: A Saudi defense delegation visited Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Friday to learn about Islamabad’s diplomatic priorities and engagements as the two countries strengthen security collaboration and consult more closely on regional and international issues.
The visit comes amid sustained high-level engagement between Islamabad and Riyadh, with regular contacts spanning defense, diplomacy and economic cooperation.
A 15-member delegation from the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Command and Staff College met officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said an official statement.
“The visit of the delegation to Pakistan is a manifestation of excellent defense and security relations between the two countries,” the foreign ministry said.
It added that officials briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s foreign policy issues and bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, followed by an interactive session.
The head of the delegation thanked Pakistani authorities for facilitating the visit, the statement said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close defense and security cooperation, including training exchanges and joint exercises.
In September last year, the two countries signed a bilateral security agreement under which aggression against one would be treated as a threat to the other.
While Saudi diplomats are regular visitors to the Pakistani foreign ministry, such visits by defense delegations are rare, reflecting that the two sides seek to understand each other’s defense and diplomatic perspectives more closely.
