APPNA-AZ Holds Successful Educational and Entertaining Community Event
By Yousuf Bhavad

The APPNA-AZ held a successful educational and entertaining event on November 3rd 2012 at the Airport Marriott. More than 200 people from across Arizona attended this gathering of physicians and non-physicians.

It was a full-day activity for many APPNA-AZ physicians. Educational sessions were held during the day for the continuing medical education offered by the local Pakistani American physicians. The evening program started at 7:30 pm with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Salmaan Faizi. Dr. Mehtab Siddiky, the secretary of APPNA-AZ chapter, served as the master of ceremony. She thanked the audience for their participation.

Dr. Faran Bashir, the president of APPNA-AZ, welcomed the guests and talked about the APPNA-AZ activities during the last year. Nadeem Kazi, the founder of APPNA-AZ chapter, recalled the circumstances that led to the creation of the chapter in Arizona. He recalled one of his close friends was murdered in Pakistan during ethnic violence. Muslim physicians had become the target of war against terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11.

Dr. Kazi met with few of his close associates and laid the foundation of APPNA-AZ. He highlighted the accomplishments of APPNA-AZ in the last 10 years. He also recognized the community members and the organizations that supported the APPNA-AZ projects over the years.

Dr. Maqbool Halepota introduced the keynote speaker Alessandra Soler, who is the executive director of ACLU Arizona. She described the purpose of the ACLU and the role it plays in protecting the civil liberties of US citizens. Specifically, the ACLU ensures no constitutional rights are violated when the government takes actions against the people in the name of national security, war against terrorism or any kind of discrimination based on race, creed or religion. The ACLU took the state of Oklahoma to court for legislation against the Sharia law and won. In Arizona, it is fighting for a Muslim man who was fired from his job for sporting a beard.

The guests enjoyed a buffet dinner followed by a musical performance by Tehseen Javed and his band. Tehseen sang popular old songs including folk and bhangra songs. The program ended around 1 am and was followed by a photo session with Tehseen.

Enjoy the pictures and the slideshow of the event at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/azpakcommunity/ sets/72157631958030915/show/

 

 

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