VZCZCXRO3253
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #0516 0310712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 310712Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6575
INFO RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 4440
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 9522
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 1243

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000516 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/WE FOR SASHA MEHRA 
S/WE FOR GERDA LANE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S "INFLUENTIAL WOMEN" NOMINEES 
 
REF: SECSTATE 202341 
 
¶1. Embassy Islamabad nominates the following outstanding 
Pakistani female leaders for inclusion in the Women's 
Empowerment Strategy Session.  The list includes women who 
represent the vast range of ethnicities, political 
affiliations, and vocations in Pakistan. 
 
--Ms. Sumaira Malik 
  Federal Minister for Womens Development; Member of the 
National Assembly 
  Address: 33 Ministers Enclave, Islamabad, Pakistan 
  Telephone: 92-51-921-0461 
 
--Dr. Shamshad Akhtar 
  Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan; Former Fullbright 
Scholarship Recipient 
  Address: State Bank of Pakistan, I-I Chundrigar Road, 
Karachi, Pakistan 
  Telephone: 021-921-2447 
 
--Ms. Asma Jehangir 
  Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; prominent 
lawyer, and women's rights activist 
  Address: 131-E/1 Gulberg III, Lahore, Pakistan 
  Telephones: 92-42-576-3234, 92-42-571-0709, 92-300-842-0367 
  email: asmalaw@aghs.brain.net.pk 
 
--Ms. Sherry Rehman 
  Member of the National Assembly; Information Secretary for 
the Pakistan Peoples Party; former journalist 
  Address: House 21, Street 37, F-7/1, Islamabad, Pakistan 
  Telephone: 92-51-265-0945, 0300-500-1420 
  fax: 92-51-922-4128 
  email: sherryrehman@hotmail.com, sherryrehman@gmail.com 
 
--Ms. Zubaida Jalal 
  Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education; 
Member of the National Assembly 
  Address: 11 Ministers Enclave, Islamabad, Pakistan 
  Telephone: 92-51-921-7997 
  Fax: 92-51-921-5700 
 
¶2. In light of the request to highlight charasmatic media 
personalities, Post also wishes to draw attention to an 
atypical candidate: Begum Nawazish Ali.  Begum Nawazish Ali 
is actually the transvestite alter ego of Mr. Ali Salim.  In 
the tradition of family-oriented cross-dressing entertainers, 
such as Milton Berle, Dana Carvey's "church Lady," and Barry 
Humphreys' "Dame Edna,"  Ali's character--the widow of a 
retired Army Colonel--hosts a bold and compelling talk show, 
"Late Night Show with Begum Nawazish Ali" on the popular "Aj 
TV" cable network.  Begum Nawazish--who has been featured in 
"The New York Times" and in several other media outlets--has 
become a popular media figure who, during the course of 
interviews with prominent politicians and celebrities, 
manages to tackle hard-hitting women's issues, social taboos, 
and topics that ordinary women in Pakistan are unable to 
broach. 
 
Address: Ali Saleem, "Late Night Show with Begum Nawazish 
Ali", Aaj TV Studios, 531 Recorder House, Business 
         Recorder Road, Karachi, Pakistan 
CROCKER