|
 PAKPAC Press Releases in Sep
PAKPAC condemns the bomb attack on Islamabad Marriott. This grotesque attack, which has caused huge loss of life and great suffering, has no justification whatsoever. PAKPAC stands besides the elected government and people of Pakistan in their fight against extremism and terror. We hope that the Pakistan's entire nation will get united to fight the menace of terrorism, and to realize that elimination of terrorism is in Pakistan's interest.
We pray for Pakistan 's stability and prosperity. We feel for the sufferings of the innocent impacted by this tragedy . PAKPAC extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the dead and injured. More on this issue
Archived Press Releases
|
 PAKPAC
COMMUNICATIONS
 EID MUBARIK
PAKPAC wishes its readers Eid Mubarak.
PAKPAC Condemns Escalation of Terrorism in Pakistan
According to a report by one agency in Pakistan, the country has suffered about 30 suicide attacks between January through September 2008, killing over 500 innocent civilians and critically wounding about 800. This terribly saddening report becomes even more depressing when we learn that Pakistan has been the target of more terrorist attacks than Iraq and Afghanistan, two countries where an all-out war is being waged. CHOICES have consequences and the choices that Pakistan is going to make today will have either positive or catastrophic consequences for the coming generations. PAKPAC proposes that an urgent conference be arranged experts from and on the Pak-Afghan region, representatives of the US and allied powers, Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the objective of formulating a joint strategy towards elimination of terrorism from Pakistan
PAKISTANI AMERICAN SOLDIER DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY
The Pakistani American
community all across the United States joins their fellow Americans to mourn the
death in Afghanistan of a Pakistani American Muslim US soldier, Second Lt.
Mohsin Naqvi.
Lt. Naqvi, was 26
year old and was in a group of five soldiers killed while on patrol Wednesday
the 17th in Afghanistan. He had just been married about 4 months ago. Lt. Naqvi
enrolled in the Army Reserve a few days after the 9/11 attacks and later served
in Iraq. When he returned from Iraq in 2003, he re-enlisted for active duty
after earning bachelor's and master's degrees.
More
|
|
 PAKPAC Endorsement
PAKPAC endorses the candidacy of Mr. Ashwin Madia to Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District. Mr. Madia - a South Asian if elected will become the first South Asian to be elected to US Congress from Minnesota. PAKPAC asks the Pakistani American community residing in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District to donate to the Madia campaign and not only vote themselves but make sure that their friends also go out and vote on Election Day. This district is one of the most affluent in the state, encompassing the suburbs of Hennepin County to the north, west, and south of Minneapolis. It has blue collar Brooklyn Park to the north, middle-income Bloomington to the south, and higher-income Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Plymouth and Wayzata to the West. Donate to Madia's campaign
|
|
|
 PAKPAC COMMITTEES
Kashmir Assessment and Reconciliation Committee.
The Pakistani-American Public Affairs committee has created a Kashmir situation assessment and reconciliation committee to identify and management of the challenges in Kashmir in the short and long tern basis. In order to reach the members of the committee, you can reach Dr. Parvez Shah who is the chairman of this committee at Parvez.Shah@PAKPAC.net .
The PAKPAC Position on Kashmir:
PAKPAC believes the solution to Kashmir would be based on the following principles.
-
Non-violence.
-
Respect of all minorities in all different regions within Kashmir.
-
Right of self determination of the people by democratic principles.
-
Demilitarization of the region.
-
Economic development of the region.
-
Irrespective of the decision of the people of Kashmir, the region will remain dependent heavily on both Pakistan and India.
It is critical in the larger interest of the people of both Pakistan and India and entire subcontinent that a peaceful effective solution is identified by the leadership on all sides.
All force based actions, reactionary and military actions from all sides need to be stopped immediately.
The solution to the region is going to be based on intense discussions and negotiation in a room with all the three parties to sit down together in that room. Any action by any side to move the people away from that room is a lost opportunity with regards to time and life and future of that region.
|
| |
 Meet the PAKPAC Board of Directors
 WELCOME ABOARD PAKPAC NEWEST DIRECTOR  Mohiudin A. Zeb, M.D., F.A.C.C.
A graduate of Dow Medical College Class of ’71. Dr. Zeb is in private practice in the field of Cardiology and internal medicine in Greenville TX. Most recently he was Medical Director at the Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville, TX. He and his family are actively involved in community affairs in Dallas Tx.
PAKPAC has
more
openings
for active
community
members to
join in and
become
Board of
Directors.
Write to
Nomination@pakpac.net
PAKPAC Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Community Action Needed
PAKPAC VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
ONLY YOU CAN SILENCE YOURSELF.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE
PLEASE CHOOSE NOT TO LOSE.
Democracy depends on the participation of the community at all levels of the government and one of the most important responsibilities any community has is the participating in the voting process. The November 2008 elections in the United States will be one of the most important elections for the people of United States and the world. According to the evaluation of most experts, these elections may be another one of the closest elections.
PAKPAC asks their community supporters, volunteers across the United States to initiate a nationwide effort for voter registration. The community volunteers are urged to start working in a coordinated effort to register new eligible voters. The effort would be to work with the electronic voter registration as well as drives at all community gatherings in the coming days. As the month of Ramadan in US is showing unprecedented levels of people at community gatherings as well as the religious gatherings, it is critical to use these opportunities to have registered new voters. The upcoming Eid ul Fitre event across United States should allow community volunteers and PAKPAC student ambassadors to register voters. It is important to tell three sentences to everyone who is registering to vote.
A) Thank you for registering
B) Please make sure that you do go out and vote on the Election Day.
C) Please plan to participate in the political process at any level and do not let others steal your rights from you.
VOTERS FROM ABROAD NEED TO USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS:
More information while overseas:
Overseas Registration Form
US Postage Paid Envelop for Absentee Ballot:
Open the Back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot
Open Security Envelope
STATE BY STATE VOTER LAW & REGISTRATION & DEADLINES
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
VOTER REGISTRATION FORM
Time is running out for you to participate in this year's historical elections, so don't delay.
WHERE TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4TH 2008
If you don't know where to vote on November 4th, Google can help: http://maps.google.com/vote
The ball is in your court now.
|
|
 PAKPAC Fund Raisers
PACPAC encourages its members to support and spread the word for the following events Congressman Larson - Oct 4th Connecticut - More Info |
|
Civil Liberties PAKPAC MEETS WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL MUKASEY TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR PROTECTING BALLOT ACCESS
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Grace Chung Becker, and other senior officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) met today with leaders of dozens of civil rights groups, as well as national organizations representing state and local officials, secretaries of state and attorneys general offices from across the country, to review plans to protect voting rights in the upcoming federal election.
The meetings today are part of the Department’s continuing effort under the Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative, which was established in October 2002 to expand efforts to address election crimes and voting rights violations. The two overarching goals of the initiative are to ensure fair voting access and to protect the integrity of the election process. On Nov. 4, 2008, under the programs implemented by the Criminal and Civil Rights Divisions, the Department will work hard to ensure fair access for the nation’s voters, and to uphold the integrity of the nation’s democratic electoral process. The Justice Department enforces specific federal voting rights laws and has accomplished significant results in the past several years.
On November 4, 2008, hundreds of federal government employees will be deployed in counties, cities and towns across the country to monitor polling places and to ensure compliance with federal voting statutes. In light of questions have been asked regarding who will serve as election monitors, Asst AG Becker informed the public that no criminal prosecutors will be utilized as election monitors on Election Day this year. This decision was made as a precaution and is not the result of any instance of intimidation or complaint regarding any specific incident.
Rule Changes Would Give FBI Agents Extensive New Powers
The Justice Department unveiled changes to FBI ground rules today that would put much more power into the hands of line agents pursuing leads on national security, foreign intelligence and even ordinary criminal cases. PAKPAC alongwith other civil liberty groups have fought against the introduction of these guidelines and would be monitoring their implementation closely.
The overhaul, the most substantial revision to FBI operating instructions in years, also would ease some reporting requirements between agents, their supervisors and federal prosecutors in what authorities call a critical effort to improve information gathering and detect terrorist threats. More
ICE announces new Performance- Based National Detention Standards for all ICE detention facilities
The performance- based standards will be implemented over the next 18 months to ensure that ICE continues to provide excellent care to those in custody. These standards are one part of ICE's comprehensive approach to detention oversight, which also includes facility quality assurance, inspection contracts and the publication of semi-annual reports. The enhanced standards will take full effect in all facilities housing ICE detainees in January 2010.
The performance- based standards, now common in the detention industry, allow reviewers to examine key indicators of a detention facility's level of compliance with a particular standard. They focus on expected outcomes and contain clear practices and outcome measures. Each outcome measure demonstrates how well a detention facility's protocols, procedures, and practices are achieving the desired result.
TWO CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME FOR ANTI-MUSLIM VANDALISM IN REVERE, MA
Two individuals were charged today in an one-count information for carrying out a criminal conspiracy that interfered with the fair housing rights of two Muslim families living in Revere, Mass. The defendants were charged in U.S. District Court in Boston with repeatedly vandalizing and damaging vehicles parked in front of the duplex home shared by the two families in 2004 and 2005.
Religious Freedom
Religion in the American workplace is among the most contentious and difficult areas for employees and employers to navigate. In our increasingly diverse and religiously pluralistic society, conflict is bound to occur, and if Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) statistics are correct, is occurring at an ever quickening pace. 1 The risks of getting it wrong - and, we believe, the rewards of getting it right - are powerful motivators to businesses to pay careful attention to this issue. FAQ about Religious freedom at work
Immigration
UPDATE ON PENDING FBI NAME CHECKS AND PROJECTED NATURALIZATION PROCESSING TIMES
The USCIS Ombudsman had identified FBI name check delays as one of the major hurdles to improved customer service at USCIS in his 2008 and 2007 Annual Reports to Congress
-
· There were 269,943 name checks pending on May 6, 2008. There are 95,449 pending as of August 12, 2008.
-
· There were 185,162 name checks pending for more than six months on May 6, 2008. There are 61,817 pending more than six months as of August 12, 2008.
USCIS met its April 2, 2008 goal to process all name checks pending more than two years by July 2008.
USCIS now anticipates naturalization application processing will average 10-12 months nationally by the end of September 2008. Previously USCIS estimated that processing naturalization applications would take 16-18 months before reducing the estimate to 14-16 months and later to 13-15 months.
Average processing times significantly increased after the surge in immigration filings in the summer of 2007. From June 2007 to August 2007, USCIS received nearly 3 million applications, compared to 1..8 filings during the same period in the previous year. In FY 2007, USCIS received 1.4 million naturalization applications, nearly double the annual volume.
“USCIS and FBI Release Joint Plan to Eliminate Backlog of FBI Name Checks; Partnership Establishes Series of Milestones To Complete Checks
US Citizenship Questions FAQ about applying for Citizenship
REDESIGNED IMMIGRATION TEST
USCIS will begin administering a redesigned (new) naturalization test on October 1, 2008. The following guidelines will determine whether you will take the current test or the redesigned new test. More
|
Future Activities Oct 10th - DOJ meeting about Civil Liberties
|
|
.jpg)
