Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani has tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. In a message of micro-blogging site Twitter, Mr. Haqqani, wrote: "I asked to accept the resignation of PM Gilani Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.
"I have much to contribute to building a new Pakistan free of bigotry & intolerance. Will focus energies on that," he further tweeted.
Mr Haqqani is embroiled in controversy over a secret memo, allegedly written by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari asking for US intervention in his country to prevent a military takeover following the death of Osama bin Laden in an American military raid in May this year.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday appointed Sherry Rehman as ambassador of Pakistan in the United States to move quickly to fill the post which fell vacant with the resignation Husain Haqqani.
Haqqani had left his resignation on Tuesday during a meeting of top civilian and military leadership of the country, which was approved by the Prime Minister immediately. Sherry Rehman has called on the Prime Minister House here on Wednesday, PM, and discussed the affairs of his diplomatic functions.
MNA Sherry Rehman, who is also an outspoken human rights activist, is presently serving as Chairperson of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.
“I will soon resign as a member of parliament,” she said while talking to The News after the PM House’s announcement of appointing her as Pakistan’s new envoy in Washington. According to sources, the decision to appoint Sherry Rehman the ambassador was taken during the Tuesday’s meeting of the civilian and military leadership.
Rehman had moved a bill to parliament a private member in 2010, which suggests changes in the controversial blasphemy laws in the country. After the assassination of Salman Taseer Governor of Punjab in early 2011, Ms. Rehman said his life was also in danger of right-wing parties had begun to issue threats against her.
Sherry Rehman’s background as a senior professional journalist for 20 years has given her wide media outreach as an incumbent second-term lawmaker with a frontline public position against religious extremism. Her most recent awards include formal recognition as “Democracy’s Hero” by the International Republican Institute, US, and the Jeanne Kirkpatric Award for Women in 2011.
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