FOP Organizes Independence
Day Celebrations in Los Angeles
By M. Zafar Ullah
Group
photo of the FOP organizing committee with Sheriff
Lee Baca. FOP President Sarfaraz Khan introduces his
team to the audience |
Friends of Pakistan celebrated
the 60th Independence Day of Pakistan at the Exposition
Park on Friday (August 10, 2007) with great joy and enthusiasm.
It is estimated that a crowd of over 8,000 people showed
up to enjoy the event.
The event was organized by the Friends of Pakistan, which
was led by Sarfaraz Khan, Founder and President of the Organization.
Friends of Pakistan operates as a non-profit organization
and aims to provide a platform to the Pakistani Americans
at the grass-root levels to strengthen Pakistan-US ties
and serve as a bridge between Pakistani-Americans and the
community at large.
The event kicked off at around 8pm. After a brief musical
break, Mr. Khan took to the stage.
He thanked the audience for making Pakistan's Independence
Day celebration successful. He talked about maintaining
unity amongst the Pakistani community's members to make
Pakistan strong and stable both at home and abroad. He also
hoped and asked everyone to put together a 'community center'
for Pakistanis where everyone could enjoy and celebrate
their festive occasion in one place. He also thanked the
organizing committee members for their hard work and dedication
to put up such a grand event. Later he introduced the Chief
Guest, Sheriff of Los Angeles County, Lee Baca who received
by a thunderous applause from the crowd. Mr. Baca thanked
the organizers including Mr. Khan and the organizers committee
for their selfless devotion and hard work to make the event
a success.
Mr. Baca fondly recalled his visit to Pakistan where he
was accorded a warm and hearty welcome by the hospitable
citizens of Pakistan. Later he distributed certificates
of appreciation from the Sheriff's department to the organizing
committee members of the Friends of Pakistan.
After the certificate distribution ceremony the second part
of the program consisting of the cultural song and dances
was started.
Everyone from young and old enjoyed the festive mood of
the event. Songs and dances both from local and popular
talented artists drew the most attention from the audience.
Popular singers like Taranum Naz, Rabi Pirzada, Sajjad Ali
and T Ali mesmerized the highly charged crowd. As one young
Pakistani American teenager remarked, this type of event
puts you in a patriotic mood for the younger generation.
Besides this wonderful event, there were a wide range of
vendors who put up different stalls and booths in the lush
green lawns of the Exposition Park.
The food booths did a brisk business by serving mouth watering
delicious foods.
It was a one of a kind event and everyone enjoyed every
minute which lasted till past midnight.
The Consul General of Pakistan in Los Angeles, Syed Ibne
Abbas also graced the occasion.
The event was thoroughly enjoyed by the large number of
Pakistanis who had gleefully turned up at the Exposition
Park on August 10, 2007 to celebrate the 60th Independence
Day of Pakistan.
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