Sehar Kush Kamran (Urdu: سحر کوش کامران) is a Pakistani politician who was a member of the Senate of Pakistan from March 2012 to March 2018.

Sehar Kamran
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
Assumed office
29 February 2024
Member of the Senate of Pakistan
In office
12 March 2012 – 11 March 2018
Personal details
Political partyPPP
SpouseMr. Kamran
OccupationPolitician, educator

Education edit

She holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts which she received from the University of Karachi in 1987.[1] During her studies at the University of Karachi, she served as President of Peoples Students Federation, the student wing of the Pakistan People's Party.[2]

Career edit

Kamran joined the Pakistan International School Jeddah – English Section (PISJ-ES), located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as an accountant in 1999.[3]

In 2012, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) decided to award her ticket for contesting in the 2012 Pakistani Senate election.[2] While serving as principal of the school, she was elected to the Senate of Pakistan as a candidate of PPP on reserved seats for women in 2012 Pakistani Senate election.[4][5][6] Then secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan said that if Kamran was continuing her job as principal of the school after her election as a senator, her act was unconstitutional and illegal.[7] Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, then Leader of the Senate of Pakistan criticised Kamran for holding two public service positions saying that "she did not disclose she was the principal of a school when she elected to the Senate" and added that "Pakistani law forbids a senator from holding another public service job."[8]

She remained principal of the school until November 2013[9] when she was sacked from her position by Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Muhammad Naeem Khan, reasons cited were corruption and nepotism.[10] She allegedly spent 170,000 Saudi riyals of school funds on a vehicle for personal use. [11]

In 2014, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a corruption reference against Kamran and decided to probe into the allegation in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[12] However, Foreign Office refused to cooperate with the NAB.[13][14] Reportedly, Kamran used her political connections to not let the case proceed against her. [15] In January 2016, The High Court of Sindh granted her protective-cum-transitory bail in NAB inquiry pertaining to corruption.[3]

She continued to serve as Senator till completion of her six-year term in 2018.[16] PPP decided to not give her ticket for contesting in the 2018 Pakistani Senate election.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ "Prominent female senators". The Nation. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b "PPP awards Senate tickets to ordinary workers in Sindh – Business Recorder". 12 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b "PPP senator granted protective bail by SHC". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. ^ "PPP contacts N for unopposed Senate slots election". The Nation. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. ^ "PPP dominates Senate elections". www.geo.tv. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Senate elections: Despite drama, upset, PPP comes out on top - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 3 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. ^ "PPP Senator Sehar Kamran still working as school principal". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  8. ^ "PISJ-ES principal illegally held 2 public service positions: Haq". Arab News. 22 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Sacked PISJ-ES principal steps down". Arab News. 2013-12-13. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  10. ^ "Sehar Kamran decides to leave PISJ-ES". Saudigazette. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  11. ^ "SC given list of 150 scams". Dawn. 8 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  12. ^ "NAB files reference against former PM Ashraf, Senator Sehar Kamran | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  13. ^ "روزنامہ دنیا :- پاکستان:-دفتر خارجہ کا عدم تعاون، سینیٹر سحر کامران کیخلاف تحقیقات تعطل کا شکار". Daily Dunya. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  14. ^ "NAB completes probe against Faisal Karim Kundi". Daily Times. 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  15. ^ "سابق پی پی سینیٹر کیخلاف انکوائری 6 برس بعد بھی مکمل نہ ہوسکی". Daily Jasarat. 8 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  16. ^ Saleem Shahid; Amir Wasim (31 January 2018). "PPP sets sights on six Senate seats from Balochistan". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Senate Elections: PPP starts short listing of candidates". 92 News HD Plus. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2020.