Seemi Bukhari is a Pakistani politician who has been serving in the Pakistani National Assembly since August 2018.
In the 2018 Pakistani general election, she was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on a reserved seat for women from Punjab.
Where were you born and how did you spend your childhood?
My father was a Major in the Army and I was born in Sialkot.
Because my father was in the army, he was being posted to different places. And with him we too would be posted to different places. I started my education at Army Public School. After that we moved to Nowshera for two years.
My father passed away in Nowshera because of sudden heart attack. I was in sixth grade at that time. After the death of my father we moved to Multan and I got my MBBS degree from Nishtar Medical College.
After med-school I got married, my husband is also a doctor. Both of us went to US for specialization. I specialized in skin.
We stayed there for a while, both of my kids were also born in the US. We got another good offer from Saudia Arabia.
After living abroad for 12 years, in 2008 we returned back to Pakistan and in the same year I joined PTI and wanted to do something good for our country. I did a lot of social work. I set up a free dispensary in Lahore and it was inaugurated by Imran Khan.
My purpose in politics was to serve the people. Imran Khan used to talk about creating a state of Madinah and our goal is to serve the people. In Lahore I also have opened a small sewing center. My friends who are housewives come and teach young girls skills of sewing and embroidery.
How was the environment of your house?
The environment was strict and disciplined because my father was in the army. So our home environment was also simple but there was no difference between boys and girls. Just as girls had to get permission to go out, so did boys.
And in the case of marriage too, my mother gave me complete freedom and when the proposal came, I was asked for a formal consent initially and then the matter was taken forward. But we were told to take care of our traditions and religious affairs and our boundaries .
And then the trust my parents imparted in me, made me confident. Which gave me enough courage to land in politics. Now many times there is a situation where I am the only woman on ground but thanks to this self-confidence I can do everything comfortably.
Did you do something different in your family that no one else has done before?
Yes, no one in my family had much to do with politics.
My mother is a housewife. My brothers are in the forces but I got into politics. And by the grace of Allah, thanks to Khan Sahib, I became a member of the National Assembly which is a high core. It’s proud moment for me to be among 336 people from all over Pakistan that are representing Pakistan.
Apart from your party, who else do you like in politics?
I really like Aitzaz Ahsan from PPP.
Because the situation of the party is very different since the death of Benazir Bhutto and there are many allegations of corruption against their leaders, I think he should not be in the PPP.
Shaista Pervez from PMLN is also very elegant woman. I think that when you find out that your leaders are involved in many corruption cases and Panama leaks, you should stand with truth.
Now that your party is in power, what do you think is the biggest problem in Pakistan?
I think the biggest problem of Pakistan at the moment is corruption.
Corruption has penetrated at every level from top to bottom. From a small shopkeeper to a business icon, everyone is involved in corruption. From school to office people do not perform their duties honestly. These are all types of corruption. I think if the head of an organization is honest then everyone can get rid of corruption and this is the agenda of our party. According to me overcoming corruption will solve many more problems.
Do you think our politics is becoming a dirty game? Politicians are using abusive language even on national Television, What would you say about that?
This is exactly what is happening these days. In the digital age, anyone who uses such language is condemned immediately on social media. It is our responsibility to condemn such people and to disassociate with them.
How is social media playing a role in raising awareness among our younger generations?
Social media has made the world a global village.
Whenever there is a new development, people came to know about it via social media. Harassment, on the other hand, is a negative side of social media by photoshopping pictures or leaking audio and tarnishing people’s image. But our IT industry is working on it. And legislation will be Passed soon in assembly. So we try to take social media to the positive side.
What would you say to the rumors of tension between the Establishment and the government in the current political scenario?
There is nothing truth in these rumours.
The Relationship between General Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan are good. the Establishment and Cabinet are the foundations of governance, and that they are all overseen by the Prime Minister. In essence, for the first time in history, we are all on the same page (even the establishment) for the welfare of Pakistan.
What is your philosophy of life?
Life with good health is a great blessing of Allah.
Appreciate it and live a productive life. Be a good citizen and serve the country and the nation.
What message would you give to new politicians and journalists?
There are both sides in all fields positive and negative.
Always be on the positive side. When Women join politics and media they face problems, don’t panic at all!
Keep working with confidence and consistency. Keep up the good work, and people will give you way.
