Profile: Suriya second KP PA woman deputy speaker

PESHAWAR: The newly-elected deputy speaker of the KP Assembly Suriya Bibi was born to the late Noor Alam Khan, a social and political figure, on January 4, 1979 in the far-off Avee village of Mastuj tehsil of Upper Chitral district of KP.

Her grandfather was a member of the royal court during the Mehtar rule in Chitral. The Mehtar appointed him the Hakim of Laspur, a vast area from Reshun to Laspur. Her father-in-law was also a political figure

and remained part of the government during the Mehtar rule and was appointed as the Hakim of Laspur for years.

Suriya received early education in her native village and did matriculation from Government High School Booni and master’s in Urdu and sociology from the University of Peshawar. Suriya Bibi launched her career as principal of a private school. She imparted education to girl students.

Suriya embarked on social service and joined politics to work for empowerment of girls and women in Chitral. She also worked as a social organizer for various NGOs.

She remained associated with the Pakistan Muslim League but left the party and joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 2007. She was named vice president of the Women’s Wing in Upper Chitral.

Suriya contested the 2024 general election as an independent candidate from PK-1 Upper Chitral and secured 18,914 votes. She was elected as second woman deputy speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday.