Sassui Palijo (Sindhi: سسئي پليجو) is a politician and a columnist from Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan. Palijo is currently affiliated to Pakistan Peoples Party, served as a Senator on women's reserved seat from Sindh from 2015 to 2021.[2][3] She is also a two-time Member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly from PS-85 (Thatta-II).
Sassui Palijo | |
|---|---|
| سسئي پليجو | |
 | |
| In office 2002–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Ghulam Qadir Palijo |
| Constituency | PS-85 (Thatta-II) |
| Member, Provincial Assembly of Sindh | |
| In office 2008–2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Amir Haider Shah Sheerazi |
| Constituency | PS-85 (Thatta-II) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1976[1] Jungshahi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Political party | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| Spouse | Suhail Kalhoro |
| Relations | Rasul Bux Palejo (uncle) |
| Parent(s) | Ghulam Qadir Palijo (father) Zarina Akhtar Baloch (mother) |
| Residence(s) | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Alma mater | University of Sindh |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and education
editShe was born on 10 January 1976 into a Sindhi Muslim family, in Jungshahi, Thatta.[1] She is a double graduate, with an undergraduate degree in law from London[4][5] and an MA in Political Science from University of Sindh (1989).[6]
Political career
editShe was first elected Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from Mirpur Sakro area of constituency PS-85 (Thatta-II) in 2002[7] and later in 2008,[7][8] when she was the only directly-elected female assembly member in Sindh out of 168 assembly members.[9] She served as the Minister for Culture in the Sindh cabinet led by chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah from 2008 to 2013. Her efforts led to the shifting of the archaeology department from Islamabad to Sindh. Around 300 books on Sindh's culture, history, and language were published during her tenure.[10]
She lost her seat in the 2013 Pakistani general election by a margin of only 409 votes,[11] after which she became a senator on a reserved seat from Sindh from 2015 to 2021.[10] Palijo was elected Chairperson of Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs in 2018.[12][13]
Activism
editPalijo has been an active campaigner for human rights and gender equality. During General Musharraf's rule, she was arrested many times in Islamabad, Thatta, Karachi, Lahore, and Thar for protesting against the military regime.[9] In 2009, she strongly protested Musharraf's handing over of Hindu Gymkhana to the National Academy of Performing Arts, saying that Hindu Gymkhana would be reserved for activities of the Hindu community.[14]
Personal life
editPalijo's father, Ghulam Qadir Palijo,[15] has been a Member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly from Thatta twice – in 1993[16] and 1997[17] – and is a former chairman of Thatta district council.[18] Her mother, Akhtar Baloch, was the first Pakistani woman politician to be arrested during Ayub Khan's military rule. Her grandmother, Zarina Baloch, was a writer, actress, folk singer, teacher, and political activist.[9] Her uncle, Rasul Bux Palejo, was the founder of Awami Tahreek.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Sassui Palijo Former MPA Minister". www.woman.com.pk. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ "PML-N sweeps Punjab; PPP, MQM recapture Sindh in Senate polls". ARY NEWS. 2015-03-05. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ Raza, Syed Irfan (2015-03-03). "Senate to elect chairperson, deputy on 12th". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "Senate of Pakistan". www.senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ "Welcome to the Website of Provincial Assembly of Sindh". www.pas.gov.pk. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ "Senate of Pakistan". senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ a b "Candidate Profile". Election Pakistan. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "Female candidates from Sindh". wichaar.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "A glance at Sindh's female election hopefuls". DAWN.COM. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ a b c Azfar-ul-Ashfaque, Hasan Mansoor | (2015-03-01). "PPP, Muttahida candidates elected unopposed to four reserved senate seats from Sindh". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "PS-85 Thatta Detail Election Result 2013 Full Information". electionpakistani.com. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ World, T. N. S. (2018-05-07). "Senate body on Parliamentary Affairs elects Sassui Palijo as chairperson". TNS World. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ "Senate Body On Parliamentary Affairs Elects Sassui Palijo As Chairperson". Pakistan Point. 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ Akhtar Balouch (16 September 2015). "8 to 1: Karachi's shrinking Hindu Gymkhana". Dawn. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Father-son spat: PPP behind split in party, claims Ayaz Palijo". The Express Tribune. 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "PS-70 Thatta Election 1993 Full Result Sindh Assembly". www.electionpakistani.com. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "PS-70 Thatta Election 1997 Full Result Sindh Assembly". www.electionpakistani.com. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ Khawaja, Ghulam Hussain (2021-12-11). "Aijaz Shirazi remembered on first death anniversary". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-06-06.