Political biography of Syeda Abida Hussain, "Power Failure" Political Odyssey of a Pakistan woman, published by Oxford University Press was launched here on Friday. Syeda Abida Hussain is a renowned politician, horse and cattle breeder, agriculturist, diplomat, belongs to Jhang. She has the distinction of being the first woman to chair the District Council of Jhang, and the first woman to be popularly elected as Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in non-party 1985 general elections.
The author has intertwined the impacts that key political events of the country have had on her personal life-and on the destiny of the nation. It is also an anecdotal account of missed opportunities. Introducing the book, Ameena Saiyad, Managing Director OUP, Pakistan said the book was a rich collection of personal episodes and experiences, valuable because they came from a life flecked by a range of diverse experiences. "In this book you will find anecdotes featuring Abida's encounters with the leading lights of Pakistani politics and foreign notables as well as her insights in the different areas of human experience she was privileged to have witnessed," she added.
The launch ceremony featured a stimulating discussion between Abida Hussain, Ahmad Rashid, journalist and author, Abbas Rashid, Executive Director, Society for the Advancement of Education, and Samina Rahman, Director Lahore Grammar School. Famous politicians, media personals, bureaucrats, literary personalities along with representatives of various professions and elite of the city attended this literary function.