Prominent Journalist and Bhutto confidante is the new ambassador to Washington

After a highly public career in academia and journalism Lodhi was recently named to Pakistan’s top diplomatic posting ambassador to Washington. “I was always very single-minded about what I wanted to do but I guess I took a long time to express it” says the 41-year-old. “Maybe it was because of the problems women have in Pakistan in trying to create a full-time career for themselves.”

Malecha Lodhi was born in Rawalpindi. She received a doctorate in politics from the London School of Economics where she taught from 1980-85. Her thesis was on the Pakistan’s Peoples Party government between 197077 and although it was never published she has long been considered an authority on the Subject. Returning to Pakistan in 1986 she Joined The Muslim daily newspaper and rose swiftly to become its editor Since 1990 she has been the editor of Pakistan’s newest English-language daily The News.

She has been friends with the prime minister since the time when Benazir Bhutto was in exile in London Bhutto now introduces Lodhi to visiting dignitaries as my Strongest critic”

Her success in journalism aside Lodhi has always wanted to be in Politics Virtually impossible in Pakistan unless one has a pre-ordained vote bank or Constituency “It’s ironic” she says. “Benazir wanted to be a journalist and I always wanted to be in Policymaking. At one time I even thought of Joining the Foreign Office.

Her appointment as ambassador has raised eyebrows in the Foreign Office and among politicians who say she landed the job because of her friendship with Bhutto. Answering criticism that she is too young and inexperienced to serve in Washington she replies?” am only as young as my! Prime Minister” adding “I have been writing on U.S.-Pakistan relations since the 1980s. The area is not new to me”

She also takes some Pride in that her Counterparts in Washington have already taken Notice of her. The Indian ambassador in

Islamabad is reported to have told his Colleagues in Washington that they will have a tough time competing with Lodhi. “I think that is a kind of compliment” she says. And Washington is Pakistan’s most important diplomatic posting.

[Courtesy of: Far Eastren Economic Review By Ahmed Rashid]

Article extracted from this publication >> March 4, 1994