Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz, known as Jehan Ara Shah Nawaz, was a prominent activist and politician in Punjab, active before and after independence of Pakistan.
13 Facts About Jahanara Shahnawaz
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Jahanara Shahnawaz belonged to the prominent Arain Mian family of Baghbanpura in Lahore.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz's father Sir Muhammad Shafi was a prominent lawyer and politician.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz was the daughter of Sir Muhammad Shafi and the wife of Mian Muhammad Shahnawaz whom she married in 1911.
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In 1918, Jahanara Shahnawaz successfully moved the All India Muslim Women's Conference to pass a resolution against polygamy.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz refused and was thus removed from the Muslim League.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz was arrested along with other Muslim League leaders during the Civil disobedience movement in Punjab in 1947.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz was president of the provincial branch of the All India Muslim Women's Conference for seven years, and served as vice-president of the Central Committee of the All India Muslim Women's Conference.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz was the first woman in Asia to preside over a legislative session.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz was a member of the All Indian General Committee of the Red Cross Society.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz wrote a novel titled Husn Ara Begum and her memoirs titled Father and Daughter: a political autobiography.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz died on 27 November 1979 at age 83.
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Jahanara Shahnawaz was of the view that the foreign policy of Pakistan should be based on trade among nations and not aid.