Community Celebrates Pakistan
Day in a Befitting Manner
A Pakistan Link Report
L to R: Sarfaraz Khan, Khalid
Khaja, Tariq Altaf, Shariq Zaidi, Samia Hai, Sarmad
Bukhari and Fatima Khan |
Friends of Pakistan, a
grassroots community-based organization, celebrated the Pakistan
Day at the Shahnawaz Restaurant on March 23. Members of the
community turned up in large number to be part of the lively
celebrations.
An outstanding feature of the event was the active participation
of the younger generation who spiritedly took part in the
quiz program to demonstrate their love for their country of
origin. For most youngsters, the event marked their first
formal initiation in the history of the country.
The ‘Story of Pakistan,’ a leaflet delineating
the chain of events that led to the passage of the Pakistan
Resolution in 1940 and the subsequent emergence of an independent
Muslim State in South Asia, was well received by the audience.
Its publication marked the FOP’s sincere striving to
educate the younger generation about the Pakistan Movement.
The
charged and enthusiastic audience at the Pakistan Day
celebrations arranged by the Friends of Pakistan
|
Speaking on the occasion,
Consul General Syed Ibne Abbas exhorted the community to forge
unity in its ranks. He explained that in a short span of seven
years – from 1940 to 1947 – the Muslims of the
subcontinent succeeded in achieving their cherished dream
of carving out a separate independent state because they demonstrated
unity in their ranks and followed the Quaid’s golden
principles of ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’ in
letter and spirit. He also read out the messages of President
Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
In his remarks on the occasion, FOP President Sarfaraz Khan
stressed the importance of the Pakistan Day. He said it was
absolutely imperative that the day was celebrated in a befitting
manner so that the younger generation could realize its importance
and celebrate it after the present generation has passed away.
Mr. Sarfaraz Khan also announced his organization’s
resolve to launch a campaign for establishing an engineering
university in Pakistan. He said there were more than a million
Pakistani-Americans and they had the resources, education,
and foresight to establish the university. “Hum
yahan sae apnea mulk kae liyae bohat kuch karsaktae hein.
Uski tarraqi yahan sae shoroo hogi,” he said.
He paid tribute to the freedom movement stalwarts. “Unhonae
to apna kam kardia. Aap nae apnea mulk kae liyae kiya kiya?
he asked.
FOP Secretary General Mr Tariq Altaf also addressed the gathering.
He said he was very proud to be a Pakistani. He also spelled
out a three-point program of his organization: to launch a
youth leadership program, to create a network to facilitate
community interaction, and to establish a 800-number help
desk to extend help to needy Pakistanis.
The quiz program was highly enjoyable and generated a great
deal of interest. It was well conducted by Samia Hai.
Mr. Khalid Khaja was the master of the ceremony and gave a
good account of himself.
Sarmad Bukhari, President of Youth MSA in Santiago High School,
Corona, delivered a spirited speech on the freedom movement
and was duly applauded by the audience. Fatima Khan, recited
a naat, and she too won spontaneous applause.
After a delicious dinner was served by Shahnawaz Restaurant,
Tahir Hussain and Azra Malik electrified the audience when
they sang a number of popular national songs. The band of
Umair Ibrahim, Zeesha and orchestra gave an equally splendid
performance.
On the whole, the evening turned out to be a memorable one.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
