Abida Hussain: Difference between revisions

  | alma_mater      = [[Bahauddin Zakariya University]]<br />{{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[Political Science|Poly Sci.]])}}

'''Syeda Abida Hussain–Imam''' ({{nastaliq|سيدہ عابدہ  حسین}}&nbsp; b. 1948<ref name="The Telegraph, Swamy, 2016" />) is a Pakistani [[conservative]] politician, [[diplomat]] and [[socialite]] on the platform of the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]].<ref name="The Nation, Hassan, 2014">{{cite news|last1=Hassan|first1=Mubashir|title=Abida to keep 'small political role' sans active politics|url=https://nation.com.pk/21-Feb-2014/abida-to-keep-small-political-role-sans-active-politics|accessdate=27 May 2018|work=The Nation|agency=The Nation|publisher=The Nation|date=21 February 2014}}</ref>

Born into a [[jagir|feudal family]] in Pakistan, she served as the [[Pakistan Ambassador to the United States]] from 1991 to 1993, and the [[Ministry of National Food Security and Research|Minister of Food and Agriculture]] [[Ministry of Planning and Development (Pakistan)|Population Control]] in the second administration of Nawaz Sharif from 1997 until [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|being removed]] in 1999.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers, Report, 2015">{{cite news|last1=Reporter|first1=A|title=Pakistan's political history in the words of Abida Hussain|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1156714|accessdate=27 May 2018|work=DAWN.COM|agency=Dawn Newspapers|publisher=Dawn Newspapers|date=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1193982|title=COVER: A gilded life: Power Failure by Syeda Abida Hussain|date=2015-07-13|newspaper=DAWN.COM|access-date=2016-12-04}}</ref>

Abida Hussain was born in [[Jhang]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] in [[Pakistan]], into a [[Feudalism in Pakistan|wealthy family that owned]] [[farmhouse]]s, [[cattle range]]s and [[ranch]]es in 1948.<ref name="The Telegraph, Swamy, 2016">{{cite news|last1=Swamy|first1=Kumara|title='I don't think Mr Modi is politically interested in starting a serious conversation with Pakistan'|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160313/jsp/7days/story_74188.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319105952/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160313/jsp/7days/story_74188.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 March 2016|accessdate=29 May 2018|work=The Telegraph|agency=The Telegraph|publisher=The Telegraph , 2016|date=13 March 2016|location=New Delhi|language=en-uk|quote={{small|According to The Telegraph in India, Abida Hussain age was 68 in 2016.}}}}</ref> Her father, [[Feudalism in Pakistan|landlord]] Syed Abid Hussain Shah, was an honorary [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]] in the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] and a politician who was elected on the platform of the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] for a seat in the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] of [[British India|India]] in [[1945 Indian general election|1945–47]].<ref name="Syed Abida Hussain bio (web)">{{cite web|last1=Hussain-Imam|first1=S. Abida|title=Abida's Story|url=http://syedaabidahussain.com/abidas-story/|website=syedaabidahussain.com|publisher=Syed Abida Hussain bio (web)|accessdate=28 May 2018|archive-date=28 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134318/http://syedaabidahussain.com/abidas-story/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He first served as a cabinet minister in the [[Ministry of Talents]] of the Prime Minister, [[Mohammad Ali Bogra]] in 1954–55, and later as a cabinet minister in the [[Feroze Khan administration|administration]] of [[Firoz Khan Noon|Feroze Khan]] in 1958.<ref name="Syed Abida Hussain bio (web)"/>

Hussain received a [[British education|British-style education]] at [[Convent of Jesus and Mary, Lahore|Convent of Jesus and Mary]] in Lahore where she qualified for her [[Senior Cambridge|Cambridge exams]] and later completed her [[GCE Advanced Level|O]] and [[GCE Advanced Level|A-Level]] qualifications from [[Surval Montreux]] in [[Switzerland]].<ref name="Syed Abida Hussain bio (web)"/> She spent additional semesters studying [[history]] in [[Florence]] in [[Italy]] but did not obtain her degree and returned to [[Pakistan]] after being [[Arranged marriages in Pakistan|arranged to marry]]  [[Syed Fakhar Imam|Fakhar Imam]], [[Cousin marriage|her cousin]], who was a bureaucrat at that time.<ref name="Syed Abida Hussain bio (web)"/><ref name="Dawn Newspapers, Siddiqi, 2015">{{cite news|last1=Siddiqi|first1=Muhammad Ali|title=COVER: A gilded life: Power Failure by Syeda Abida Hussain|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1193982|accessdate=28 May 2018|work=DAWN.COM|agency=Dawn Newspapers|publisher=Dawn Newspapers|date=13 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pakistanherald.com/profile/syed-fakhar-imam-1169|title=Syed Fakhar Imam|newspaper=Pakistan Herald|access-date=2016-12-17|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919194846/http://www.pakistanherald.com/profile/Syed-Fakhar-Imam-1169|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|military takeover]] in 1999 and the [[Legal Framework Order, 2002|presidential ordinance]] enforced in 2002, Abida was disqualified from participating in [[Politics of Pakistan|national politics]] due to the lack of submitting proof of a [[baccalaureate degree]] to the [[Election Commission of Pakistan|Election Commission]], which is a requirement.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers, Siddiqi, 2015"/> In 2002, she went to attend the [[Undergraduate|undergraduate program]] in [[Economics]] at the [[Bahauddin Zakariya University]] (BZU) but switched her major, and graduated with [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[Political Science]] in 2008.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers, Siddiqi, 2015"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/blog/2015/04/11/bittersweet-memories-of-abida-hussain/|title=Bittersweet memories of Abida Hussain|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref>

Abida Hussain is married to [[Fakhar Imam]] who is also a politician on [[PML-N|PML(N)]]'s platform.<ref name="Syed Abida Hussain bio (web)" /> She is a Shia muslim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-12 |title=Interesting anecdotes: Abida Hussain narrates her political journey |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/820896/interesting-anecdotes-abida-hussain-narrates-her-political-journey |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

When the [[1985 Pakistani general election|1985 general election]] was announced, she joined the [[Pakistan Muslim League]] (PML) and stood in [[Constituency NA-87]] against clergy member, Rehmatullah Bharwana; she was noted as the first woman first women to be elected to the [[National Assembly of Pakistan|National Assembly]] on a general seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1141179/|title=Confessions of a feudal lord's daughter|website=Business Recorder|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref> In 1988, she sided with the conservative faction led by [[Fida Mohammad Khan]], and joined the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML(N)]] led by its [[President of Pakistan Muslim League (N)|President]] [[Fida Mohammad Khan|Fida Mohammad]].<ref name="Oxford University Press, A. Hussain, 2015">{{cite book|last1=Hussain|first1=Syeda Abida|title=Power Failure: The Political Odyssey of a Pakistani Woman|date=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Karahi, Pakistan|isbn=9780199401574|page=707|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nMizoAEACAAJ&q=Power+failure+Abida|accessdate=29 May 2018|language=en-pak}}</ref>

At the time of her launch of her [[autobiography]], she later identified the issue of [[nuclear weapons]] was the principal source of distress between bilateral ties of [[Pakistan]] and the [[United States]].<ref name="nuclear weapons">{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/news/pakistan/1992/920731.html|title=Pakistan|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Hussain has written in her memoir that the "conversations and negotiations with the American functionaries and the American politicians were quite rough. Because they would make only one demand: "Roll back your [atomic] program". And, since I was quite clear that we cannot do that, our conversations were not friendly."<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1104005/political-musings-abida-recalls-her-experience-as-ambassador-to-us/|title=Political musings: Abida recalls her experience as ambassador to US – The Express Tribune|date=2016-05-16|newspaper=The Express Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OUSTDAAAQBAJ&q=abida+hussain+2003&pg=PA65|title=US-Pakistan Relations: Pakistan's Strategic Choices in the 1990s|last=Farooq|first=Nasra Talat|date=2016-07-01|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317358497|language=en}}</ref> In talks with Sharif in Islamabad, Abida Hussain recommended cancelling of the acquisitions of the [[F-16 Falcon|F-16s]] fighter jets and have funds refunded from the [[United States government]], which Sharif was also of the same view point.<ref name=":1"/>

Abida later levelled accusations on the American contractor, [[General Dynamics]], of bribing her after making the suggestions as the contractor wanted Pakistan to continue funding the [[F-16 Falcon|F-16 program]] for the [[Pakistan Air Force]] until the contract ended.<ref name=":1" /> She also maintained that the chair of the [[board of directors]] of the [[General Dynamics]], offered her to pay off her children's expensive education in [[Harvard University|Harvard]] and [[Yale University|Yale]], and also offered an estate in [[Washington, D.C.]]: she rejected the offers and confided her conversation Sharif in 1993.<ref name=":1" /><ref>[http://tribune.com.pk/story/1104005/political-musings-abida-recalls-her-experience-as-ambassador-to-us "Political musings: Abida recalls her experience as ambassador to US"; ''The Express Tribune'']. Abida quoted her conservation with the Chair of the General Dynamics, quote: You have two daughters studying in Harvard which is a very expensive school. Could we help you out with their education?</ref>

In 1994, she was implicated of receiving [[Mehrangate|financial funding from the]] [[Pakistani intelligence community|intelligence community]], and testified in the [[Panama Papers case|case hearings]] in 2016 at the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] that "we (conservatives) were led to believe that it was an election fund for members of the government."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160313/jsp/7days/story_74188.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319105952/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160313/jsp/7days/story_74188.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 March 2016|title='I don't think Mr Modi is politically interested in starting a serious conversation with Pakistan'|date=2016-03-13|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref>

After successfully defending her constituency during the [[1997 Pakistani general election|general elections]] held in 1997, Abida Hussain joined the second administration of Sharif as the  [[Ministry of National Food Security and Research|Minister of Food and Agriculture]] and later becoming the [[Ministry of Planning and Development (Pakistan)|Ministry of Population Control and Census]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1156714|title=Pakistan's political history in the words of Abida Hussain|date=2015-01-13|newspaper=DAWN.COM|access-date=2016-12-04}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dawn.com/news/1156714/ Pakistan’s political history in the words of Abida Hussain]</ref> She was later rumored to be appointed in the [[United Nations]] as [[Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations|Permanent Representative of Pakistan]] but this appointment was never considered.<ref name="dt1110">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\11\story_11-11-2010_pg1_4|title=Abida Hussain to be appointed new UN envoy|date=2010-11-10|publisher=Daily Times|accessdate=2010-01-10}}</ref>

After the [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|military takeover]] of the federal government in 1999, Abida was imprisoned in [[Adiala Jail|Adiala Prison]] along with the leadership of the PML(N), and an inquiry was opened on her financial wealth that ultimately called her "a major defaulter."{{rp|contents}}<ref name="Grosvenor House Publishing, Sehri">{{cite book|last1=Sehri|first1=Inam|title=Judges and Generals of Pakistan Volume – I|date=2012|publisher=Grosvenor House Publishing|isbn=9781781480434|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzllAgAAQBAJ&q=abida+hussain+kargil&pg=PT278|accessdate=29 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Although, she was later released in 2002 with no inquiry actions taken against her.{{rp|contents}}<ref name="Grosvenor House Publishing, Sehri"/> Abida Hussain later testified that the inquiries were drop due to her agreeing on a deal with the [[Pervez Musharraf|Musharraf administration]] to defect to the [[PML(Q)|splinter faction]] under [[Shujaat Hussain]], that would allow her to take participation in the [[2013 Pakistani general election|general elections]] that were held in 2002.<ref name="Golden Age, Shahzad, 2017" /> Despite agreeing on a deal with Musharraf's administration, she was disqualified to take further participation in  [[2013 Pakistani general election|general elections]] held in 2002, mainly due to failure to submit the proof of [[Bachelor's degree|baccalaureate degree]].<ref name="Golden Age, Shahzad, 2017" />

Abida Hussain's political views reflects the [[fiscal conservatism]] on economic issues, and [[environmental conservatism]] on [[Wildlife of Pakistan|wildlife issues]] in her country, as she opposed to the issue of [[Nationalization in Pakistan|nationalization of corporate industry]] by the government as it did not suit well with the conservative industrialists.{{rp|17}}<ref name="Far Eastern Economic Review"/> She also sided with Sharif's over many national security issues, and called for the [[Civilian control of the military|civilian control]] of the military after 1999.{{rp|359}}<ref name="Mittal Publications, Akbar, 1999" />

In 2002, Abida Hussain was disqualified from participating in the national politics by the [[Election Commission of Pakistan|Election Commission]] due to her lack of proof to submit the [[baccalaureate degree]] after the controversial [[Legal Framework Order, 2002|new executive order]] signed by Musharraf.<ref name="The Guardian, McCarthy, 2002"/> The new order eventually forced her to attend the university for the college degree to ensure the survival of her political career.<ref name="The Guardian, McCarthy, 2002">{{cite news|last1=McCarthy|first1=Rory|title=The general's elections in Pakistan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/12/worlddispatch.pakistan|accessdate=29 May 2018|work=The Guardian|agency=The Guardian|date=12 July 2002|language=en-uk|quote={{small|One senior Pakistan Muslim League leader, Abida Hussain, has reportedly just sat BA exams at a university in Multan to ensure she qualifies to stand in October's election.}}}}</ref> In 2006, she conditionally agreed to join the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] after disagreement arises with the PML(N) over the policy issues.<ref name="dt1106">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\27\story_27-11-2006_pg7_14|title=Abida and Fakhar all set to join PPP conditionally|date=2006-11-27|publisher=Daily Times|accessdate=2010-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/646915-row-deepens-after-abida,-fakhr-join-ppp|title=Row deepens after Abida, Fakhr join PPP|website=www.thenews.com.pk|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref> In 2007, she harboured doubts on Musharraf' promises on giving security to [[Benazir Bhutto]] and reportedly Bhutto to avoid attending the political rally in [[Liaqat National Bagh|National Park]] in [[Rawalpindi]], which Bhutto attended and was [[Assassination of Benazir Bhutto|assassinated]].<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1162488|title=We have failed to the handle power, says Abida Hussain|date=2015-02-09|newspaper=DAWN.COM|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref> In 2008, Abida and her husband, Fakhar, reportedly lost the [[2008 Pakistani general election|general election]], and reportedly seek their retirement after Abida and Fakhar left the PPP in 2012.<ref name="Golden Age, Shahzad, 2017">{{cite news|last1=Shahzad|first1=Mohammad|title=Interview with Syed Abida Hussain-Imam|url=http://globalagemagazine.kipscss.net/ArticleDetail/2017/May/interview-with-syeda-abida-hussain|accessdate=30 May 2018|work=globalagemagazine.kipscss.net|agency=Golden Age|publisher=Golden Age, 2017|date=1 May 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Three heavyweights may join PML-N – The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/408535/three-heavyweights-may-join-pml-n/|accessdate=29 May 2018|work=The Express Tribune|date=15 July 2012}}</ref>

During the [[2013 Pakistani general election|general election]], in 2013, Abida Hussain supported the PML-N candidate in Jhang by-elections, and ran her [[Sughra Imam|daughter's]] successful campaign to be elected for the [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab]] on the platform of the PML(N).<ref>{{cite news|title=Abida to keep 'small political role' sans active politics|url=https://nation.com.pk/E-Paper/Islamabad/2014-02-21/page-3/detail-5|work=The Nation}}</ref> She reportedly quit the politics and currently overseeing the horse racing and breeding in her constituency.<ref name="The Telegraph, Swamy, 2016" /> In 2016, she spoke very high of Nawaz Sharif, whom she considered to be [[self-made man]] and leader in politics, and paid tribute to Sharif for the services his done for his country's environment and agriculture.<ref name="The Telegraph, Swamy, 2016" /><ref name="Dawn Newspapers, Report, 2015" />