PAKPAC has started a
new section on its
website for
blogging. This will
help us understand
better what are the
community needs,
issues and opinions.
Read current blogs.
PAKPAC would like
for you to
participate in these
blogs, to submit a
blog send it to Myra
at
myrachaudhary@gmail.com
PAKPAC NEEDS YOUR
SUPPORT:
PAKPAC request
our supporters and all
the Pakistani American
Community Members to
help us in carrying out
our much needed work. NO
community has been able
to be a strong political
voice without the STRONG
financial support from
all of the people. As we
continue to be a voice
on the Hill with a
capacity to make a
meaningful change in
specific targeted
political races, a voice
to share concerns first
hand with the
administrative branch of
our government and
further strengthen our
presence and
effectiveness by
capacity building of our
community at the grass
root levels, we ask you
to join in and support
your present and your
future by making you
political contribution
to PAKPAC.
You can help PAKPAC activities by visiting
the link below
WASHINGTON D.C.,
August 25, 2010 - In
response to the
unprecedented
natural disaster in
Pakistan which has
displaced more than
20 million people
and destroyed whole
communities, four
leading Pakistani
American political
advocacy groups have
established a
coalition entitled
"The Coalition of
Pakistani American
Organizations" to
advocate for greater
international
disaster relief,
recovery and
reconstruction
assistance.
The four Pakistani
American
organizations
joining hands are:
the Council on
Pakistan Relations
(CPR), the Pakistani
American Leadership
Center (PAL-C), the
Pakistani American
Public Affairs
Committee (PAKPAC),
and the Council of
Pakistani American
Affairs (COPAA).
United by a common
desire to help the
people of Pakistan
in this time of dire
need, the Coalition
of Pakistani
American
Organizations will
work closely with
the Obama
Administration,
Congress and
non-governmental
organizations to
ensure an accurate
needs assessment is
conducted, a
comprehensive plan
of action is adopted
by the international
community and that
the necessary
resources are
allocated.
In addition to
advocating for
greater
international
economic and
technical
assistance, the
Coalition will
promote the need for
increased bilateral
trade as a means of
sustainable economic
recovery for
Pakistan.
The
unprecedented floods
in Pakistan, which
are still swamping
new towns,
displacing more
people, and
increasing death
toll due to water
diseases, snake,
bites, etc will have
a long lasting
impact on the
economy and people
of Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of
children in Pakistan
are at risk of dying
from malnutrition as
floods continue to
devastate the
country, according
to the UN IMF is renegotiating with Pakistan government some of the terms of
their $11 Billion
loans; S&P and Moody
are ready to
downgrade Pakistan
debt ratings.
Reuters have
presented a grim
analysis of risks
to watch in
Pakistan.
The amount of
foreign donations
given per flood
victim is very low
compared to other
such disasters. The
figures for the
Haiti earthquake,
tsunami, and Kashmir
earthquake were
$1087.33, $1249.80,
and $388.33
respectively. For
the Pakistan floods,
the world has given
only $16.36 per
victim.
The total pledge aid
to Pakistan is $888
million, Till Aug 27th
Pakistan has
received $88 million
of a total of $563
million pledged of
grant money, and $55
million of a total
of $179 pledged in
kind donations.
For up
to date flood relief
needs visit
NDMA website
PAKPAC
urges its readers to
spread the word of
the level of
disaster and help
needed within their
communities,
neighbors, talk to
local media about
increased help. We
ask you in the month
of Ramadan,
consider
directing your
Zakat money for the
betterment of flood
victims.
Encourage Pakistani
American Youth to
help flood victims:
Recent
flood disaster has
created a high level
of awareness amongst
our youth to help
Pakistani people in
need. A number of
events are being
planned throughout
the country with
this intent. On Sep
18th
students of American
University are
partnering with
students from other
universities in
Washington DC area
to hold a fund
raiser. Students in
Long Island, New
York, plan to hold a
walk-a-thon to raise
funds for the flood
victims. PAKPAC
urges upon parents
of Pakistani
American students to
empower such
activities and
provide financial
and logistic
support. We ask you
to channel your
relief dollars
through events held
by Pakistani
American Students.
PAKPAC requires
transparency from
Pakistan Government
PAKPAC
is also working with
the Government and
political leaders in
Pakistan, asking
them to show
solidarity and unity
at this time of
crisis, and refrain
from scoring
political gains at
the plight of the
victims. We strongly
remind the
Government of
Pakistan to have
complete
transparency in the
disbursement of
funds, and no
political motives
should be fulfilled
as where to spend
relief money.
U.S. Private Sector
Responds to Pakistan
Relief Effort
Given the ongoing
crisis in Pakistan,
the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce's
Business Civic
Leadership Center (BCLC)
and the
U.S.-Pakistan
Business Council
(USPBC) are
coordinating closely
with businesses and
partner
organizations on the
private sector
response to the
country's worst
floods in history.
American companies
are responding to
the disaster relief
effort with
corporate aid
pledges, including
cash, in-kind
contributions,
employee-matching
campaigns, and
customer engagement.
"As the magnitude of
this super flood is
becoming apparent,
the business
community is gearing
up to see how we can
help the country
cope with the
immediate crisis and
accelerate the
recovery process,"
said Stephen Jordan,
executive director
of the Chamber's
BCLC. Over the past
five years, Pakistan
has ranked as the
third-largest
overseas recipient
of disaster response
assistance from
the business
community, after
Haiti and China.
BCLC has activated
the Office Depot
Foundation-sponsored
Disaster Help Desk
for Business
(1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP,
bclchelpdesk@uschamber.com
), which exists to
field inquires from
donor companies
about how to help in
disaster
situations. In
cooperation with the
USPBC, BCLC is
hosting
information-sharing
conference calls,
documenting
corporate aid
contributions, and
informing the public
and relevant
partners about the
current state of
corporate disaster
aid contributions.
More information is
available on
BCLC's website..
Read More
US Private Sector
Financial Help
Many US Corporations
are participating in
the Pakistan flood
relief efforts,
including Wall
Street giants like
Goldman Sachs,
Deutsche Bank, and
many more, through
their
Matching Gift
Program PAKPAC
urges you to ask
your friends working
in corporate America
to donate money
through their
corporation, where
in many cases the
corporation will
match dollar for a
dollar.
Deutsche Bank as an
interim commitment,
USD 75,000 was
pledged to the
relief efforts. A
list
Help from Other
faiths
The Jewish
Federation of Howard
County and
Jewish Federation of
Greater Washington
are partnering with
THE ASSOCIATED to
establish an
emergency relief
fund to respond to
the disastrous
consequences of
flooding in
Pakistan. All
contributions to
this fund will be
allocated directly
to the relief
effort, which is
being coordinated by American Jewish
Joint Distribution
Committee (JDC), and
will provide
immediate
humanitarian aid to
flood victims and
their families.
The American Jewish
Joint Distribution
Committee
quickly dispatched
representatives on
the ground to assess
the situation and
determine where
relief dollars will
be best utilized.
JDC has previously
provided relief to
the Pakistani people
in the wake of the
disastrous 2005 and
2008 earthquakes.
Mosques
have been here since
the colonial era. A
mosque, or masjid,
is literally any
place where Muslims
make salat, the
prayer performed in
the direction of
Mecca; it needn't be
a building. One of
the first mosques in
North American
history was on Kent
Island, Md.: Between
1731 and 1733,
African American
Muslim slave and
Islamic scholar Job
Ben Solomon, a
cattle driver, would
regularly steal away
to the woods there
for his prayers --
in spite of a white
boy who threw dirt
on him as he made
his prostrations.
The
Midwest was home to
the greatest number
of permanent U.S.
mosques in the first
half of the 20th
century. In 1921,
Sunni, Shiite and
Ahmadi Muslims in
Detroit celebrated
the opening of
perhaps the first
purpose-built mosque
in the nation.
Funded by real
estate developer
Muhammad Karoub, it
was just blocks away
from Henry Ford's
Highland Park
automobile factory,
which employed
hundreds of Arab
American men.
Most
Midwestern mosques
blended into their
surroundings. The
temples or mosques
of the Nation of
Islam -- an
indigenous form of
Islam led by Elijah
Muhammad from 1934
to 1975 -- were
often converted
storefronts and
churches. In total,
mosques numbered
perhaps slightly
more than 100
nationwide in 1970.
In the last three
decades of the 20th
century, however,
more than 1 million
new Muslim
immigrants came to
the United States
and, in tandem with
their African
American
co-religionists,
opened hundreds more
mosques. Today there
are more than 2,000
places of Muslim
prayer, most of them
mosques, in the
United States.
Read More
As a result of a
recent increase in
hate crimes
targeting the
Pakistani American,
Arab, Muslim and
South Asian-American
communities, and
their places of
worship, PAKPAC is
asking that all
members of the
affected communities
exercise extreme
caution and
immediately report
any incidents of
harassment, abuse or
violence to the
appropriate
authorities. In
light of recent
developments,
American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC)
reminds members of
these communities
that equal
protection and due
process rights are
afforded to
everyone, including
non-citizens, in the
United States. See
below for more
information about
your rights and what
to do if you are a
victim of a hate
crime, profiling, or
other discriminatory
conduct.
PAKPAC and other
Advocacy
Organizations had
expressed, and
continues to
express, to the
Department of
Justice (DOJ) our
concerns over the
increase of hate
crimes targeting the
respective
communities. The
tone of conversation
on various major
news networks has
contributed to such
behavior, by
encouraging fear and
suspicion of
innocent Muslims.
According to surveys
by the
TIME magazine: 28%
of voters do not
believe Muslims
should be eligible
to sit on the U.S.
Supreme Court. ~33%
say Muslims should
be barred from
running for
President — slightly
higher than the 24%
who believe Obama is
a Muslim.
Accordingly, PAKPAC
advises its members
in different
communities to hold
events to welcome
their neighbors with
open arms. If you
feel you have been a
victim of a hate
crime, please
contact the ADC Pro
Bono Legal
Department at
202-244-2990 or
legal@adc.org
Precaution Advisory:
Due to these recent
developments, ADC is
releasing the
following advisory
statement to members
of the Arab, Muslim,
South Asian and
Sikh-American
communities.
·
Ensure that any
place of worship you
attend is prepared
with an emergency
plan that can be
implemented should
the need arise.
Also, be familiar
with all the exits
to your place of
worship, in case the
building is
attacked. For
Muslims, contact
your local law
enforcement
officials and ask
for protection
during the night
prayers,
particularly during
the month of
Ramadan. Lastly, it
is advisable to find
out whether the
location has an open
line of
communication with
law enforcement.
·
If you are placed in
physical danger
because of your
ethnicity, religion
or national origin:
call the police
(dial 911 in most
communities), and/or
contact the local
FBI office. It is
the FBI's job to
investigate
hate-motivated
crimes and specific
threats of violence.
A list of FBI field
offices is included
on our website,
please see: adc.org/fbi_field_office.htm
·
With the start of
the coming school
year, ensure that
your children are
aware that they can
report any incidents
of bullying or
harassment to a
school official or
other adult. Work
with your children's
school to implement
an
anti-discriminatory
policy, if a
satisfactory one is
not already in
place.
If you feel you have
been a victim of a
hate crime, please
contact the ADC Pro
Bono Legal
Department at
202-244-2990 or
legal@adc.org.
South Asian
Americans Leading
Together (SAALT),
a national nonprofit
organization
dedicated to
elevating the voices
and perspectives of
South Asian
individuals and
organizations, joins
allies in Muslim and
Arab communities as
well as civil rights
and faith-based
organizations to
raise serious
concerns with the
rhetoric and stances
opposing the Park51
Community Center and
Muslim places of
worship around the
country. From media
figures to elected
officials to
political
candidates, the rise
in racist,
anti-Muslim and
xenophobic
statements is
reprehensible and
has no place in the
national discourse.
Park51 has been
called everything
from "inappropriate
and insensitive" to
a "Martyr-Marker
honoring
terrorists."
Muslims, like all
Americans, enjoy the
constitutionally
protected right to
freely worship in
their communities.
To call that right
into question
fundamentally
undercuts the First
Amendment.
Throughout our
country's history,
racial, ethnic and
religious minorities
have faced numerous
barriers to full
participation in
American civic life.
Examples including
discriminatory Jim
Crow laws,
anti-Catholic riots
targeting
Irish-Americans and
the shameful
internment of
Japanese Americans
during World War II
show that succumbing
to racial and
xenophobic
stereotypes has
harmed a broad
cross-section of the
American population.
The combined effect
of anti-Muslim
rhetoric used and
reproduced by
politicians and
media outlets has
already manifested.
The list of attacks
targeting Muslim
Americans is growing
at an alarming rate.
August 25th saw the
desecration of the
Iman Mosque in
Queens by a man
shouting slurs
including
"terrorist" and
urinating on prayer
rugs during evening
prayers. On August
24th, Ahmed Sharif,
a
Bangladeshi-American
cab driver who has
lived in the United
States for 25 years,
was
brutally and
repeatedly stabbed
by a passenger who
asked if he was
Muslim. On August
20th, individuals
threw a brick into a
California mosque
with a note saying,
"No temple for the
God of terrorism at
Ground Zero."
Violent hate crimes
such as these show
that the
exploitative use of
racist and
xenophobic rhetoric
quickly leads to
tragedy. We must
stand true to the
values of the First
Amendment and affirm
Park51's claim to
build in lower
Manhattan, as well
as for Muslim
places of worship
in Tennessee,
California,
Wisconsin and around
the country. The
time has come to
take a stand against
Islamophobia and
defend the values
that truly define
this country.
Elected officials
and candidates for
public office, in
particular, have
significant
influence in shaping
political discourse.
When they use
language
scapegoating members
of certain groups,
their actions can
have far-reaching
implications
regarding how that
community is viewed
by the public and
treated by the
government. We urge
politicians and
candidates to affirm
the core American
values of inclusion,
equality, and
freedom and thank
those that have
stepped up to defend
these institutions.
As for those in
opposition to Park51
or Muslim places of
worship, we urge
them to apologize
for and retract
statements
diminishing the
rights of Muslims.
Media outlets also
play a crucial role
in maintaining a
civil and free
public discourse by
providing accurate,
responsible coverage
of current events.
Media personalities
and networks have a
duty to present the
different viewpoints
in the debate around
Park51 or places of
worship in a manner
that does not target
Muslims or
uncritically
reproduce
inflammatory speech.
Simply
repeating or
echoing the
troubling statements
made by opponents in
reference to Park51
or Muslim places of
worship fuels
xenophobic sentiment
and hampers our
nation's ability to
have a meaningful
dialogue about
issues of race,
religion and
freedom.
The Council on
American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR)
released an online
toolkit designed to
help Muslim
communities organize
proactive local
educational and
outreach initiatives
tied to events such
as a "National Day
of Unity and
Healing" on the
upcoming anniversary
of the 9/11 terror
attacks. PAKPAC
encourages its
members to make use
of the toolkit in
their planned
activities for 9/11.
The toolkit, called
a "Teachable Moment
Community Response
Guide," offers
guidance, tools and
resources to help
Muslim communities
respond to specific
current events such
as the end of
Ramadan Eid al-Fitr
holiday occurring
near September 11,
the upcoming "Burn a
Koran Day" by a
church in Florida,
the anti-Muslim
bigotry generated by
the smear campaign
against a planned
Islamic community
center in Manhattan,
and the ongoing
tension and
misunderstanding
surrounding the
building or
expansion of mosques
nationwide.
"We hope this
toolkit will help
local community
leaders as they plan
the many spontaneous
outreach and
educational
initiatives that are
being scheduled in
response to the new
challenges faced by
American Muslims,"
said
CAIR National
Executive Director
Nihad Awad.
"Each community
should utilize the
contents of the
toolkit to respond
in a proactive way
to the unprecedented
wave of
hate-mongering
targeting Islam and
American Muslims."
Foreign Minister
Qureshi along with
Ambassador
Holbrooke, and USAID
Administrator Dr. Rajiv
Shah held a town
hall meeting in New
York, at Asia
Society. Billionaire
George Soros, heads’
of Asia Development
Bank, International
Rescue, Committee,
Oxfam International,
Save the Children,
and other State
Department Officials
also attended the
meeting. PAKPAC was
represented by its
Board Members Dr.
Noor Khan and Irfan
Malik. Foreign
Minister Qureshi
provided an update
of the situation on
ground, admitted
that Pakistan
government was taken
by surprise of the
enormity of
devastation, but has
now taken control of
the situation,
however, requesting
for lot more of
needed help.
Ambassador Holbrooke
maintained the
continued support
for Pakistan, with
US being the first
with the most. Dr.
Shah outlined US
help over the three
phases of relief,
reconstruct, and
redevelopment. Dr.
Shah mentioned that
about a quarter of
US assistance is
being redirected
from Kerry Lugar
funds. George Soros
pledged $5 million
towards the flood
relief; Asia
Development Bank
will provide
assistance of up to
$2 billion. Relief
agencies cautioned
the officials of
ensuring that
pledged money is
converted into
actual donations.
In
early August PAKPAC
Foundation held a
Youth Empowerment
Conference in
Washington Dc
attended by over 150
Pakistani
Americans. A survey
was conducted about
the conference.
PAKPAC foundation
intends to follow
the recommendations
of this survey; we
plan to hold such
events on an annual
basis, and will hold
3-4 smaller events
in other parts of
the country. More
information about
the
Youth Conference
can be found at
PAKPAC website.
The
empowerment
conference was well
received by its
participants, survey
results indicate the
youth were most
impressed by the
power of organized
advocacy, an
appreciation of
being a US citizen,
with Career guidance
and Civil rights
being the most
important issues
faced by our youth.
Below are the
results of this
survey
1.
Tours to the
following places met
my expectations
(check as many as
needed)
a.
48.78 % -
White House
b.
92.68 % -
Capitol Hill
c.
75.61 % -
Pakistan Embassy
2.
How was your
experience of
offering Juma prayer
at Capitol Hill
(check one)
a.
82.93 % -
Rewarding
b.
14.63 % -
Indifferent
c.
2.44 % - Did
not fit with day’s
program
3.
What did you like
about Panel
discussions (check
all that apply)
a.
73.17 % -
Topic
b.
70.73 % -
Content
c.
85.37 % -
Panelist
d.
48.78 % -
Moderator
4.
What did you gain
from attending this
event (check as many
as needed)
a.
60.98 % -
Understanding
working of US
Government
b.
75.61 % -
Power of organized
Advocacy efforts
c.
60.98 % -
Appreciation for
living in USA
d.
58.54 % -
Motivated to take a
career in US
government
5.
For future such
events what other
expert panelist
should be invited
(check as many as
needed)
a.
75.61 % -
Pakistani Americans
in US Corporate
Leadership
b.
65.85 % -
Pakistani American
Leading
Entrepreneurs
c.
51.22 % -
Pakistani Americans
with US Academia
d.
73.17 % -
Pakistani American
Professionals in
industries like
healthcare,
engineering,
accounting, law etc
6.
Duration of future
such events should
be (check one)
a.
24.39 % - 1
day
b.
70.73 % - 2-3
days
c.
4.88 % - 3-5
days
7.
How can you help
PAKPAC Foundation
future
activities (check as
many as needed)
a.
65.85 % -
Active
Member/Leadership
role
b.
12.20 % -
Financial support
c.
75.61 % -
Volunteer
d.
7.32 % - None
8.
What is the most
important issue for
our youth (check as
many as needed)
USAID held an iftar
reception for its
Muslim staffers,
friends, colleagues,
and special guests.
About 150
participants
attended the vent.
The event moderated
by Afeefa Syeed, was
on the spirit of
social
entrepreneurship
amongst Muslims in
America. USAID
Administrator Dr.
Rajiv Shah could not
attend the event due
to sudden travel
plans to oversee
flood relief efforts
in Pakistan. Rashad
Husain Special Envoy
to Organization of
Islamic Countries,
and Sonal Shah
Director, Office of
Social Innovation
and Civic
Participation at
White House were the
keynote speakers.
Mr. Hussain talked
about innovation
taking place amongst
Muslims outside USA
in developing
countries like
India. Ms. Shah
talked about how
some great ideas
come from specific
needs within
underdeveloped
countries, she gave
the example of text
messaging as a toll
developed by a
start-up in Kenya,
used to spread
messages about news
of interest. This
very technology is
currently being used
amongst the flood
victims in Pakistan
to alert them where
and what relief
provisions are
available, and to
warn them of rising
water, etc. PAKPAC
was represented by
its Executive
Director Irfan Malik
at the Iftar.
October is national
anti bullying month.
PAKPAC is partnering
with Department of
Education and other
organizations to
hold events during
this month to bring
awareness to the
increase in bullying
at our schools.
PAKPAC is concerned
about the alarming
high rate of
increase in bullying
of Pakistani
American students in
public schools over
the past few years.
We ask community
leaders to help in
organizing these
anti bullying
seminars in their
town. PAKPAC can
provide audiovisual
and educational
material for such
events. For more
information contact
ed@pakpac.net.
THIS IS Pakistan’s
Katrina. I just
returned from that
country, where the
devastation created
by the recent floods
was gut-wrenching.
Five years after
floods washed over
the southern United
States, Pakistan is
suffering from an
epic disaster. And
we turn away from
Pakistan in its hour
of need at our own
peril.
It’s not just that
one-fifth of the
country — an area
about the size of
New England — is
submerged. Nor is it
that, with weeks
left in the monsoon
season, it could get
worse. More than
1,600 people have
been killed, 6
million are
homeless, and more
than 17 million have
been affected in
some way.
Those chilling
numbers don’t convey
what I saw when our
helicopter touched
down in Multan on
the Punjab plains.
This is no isolated
hamlet, but an
ancient city, a
district capital
with a population of
over 1.5 million.
And it’s inundated
with water.
As people told their
stories, their
desperation for food
and drinking water
was evident. I saw
children orphaned by
the floods. And I
saw joy when
American helicopters
arrived with food,
water and medicine.
The scale of the
disaster was clear
from the air, where
miles of
agricultural plains
looked like a
massive lake. Any
flat surface high
enough to escape the
waters became a life
raft, packed with
people willing to
bake in the hot sun
rather than face the
flood waters.
Read More
We can't carry on
like this: an
emergency of
incredible
proportions only
half funded; vital
days used up talking
about aid fatigue --
and what we have not
done -- instead of
urgent need -- what
we now have to do.
The Pakistan floods
are the world's
biggest emergency --
60,000 square miles
under water, 20
million people
displaced, 14
million in need of
emergency health
care, six million
short of food, two
and a half million
homeless. It is a
tragedy whose book
of names of lives
lost, presumed dead,
will never be
complete. And my
abiding image is of
the outstretched
hand of a young
child begging for
food that will
arrive too late.
Read More
Here's a
simple proposal that
would help get
America past its
recent traumas about
Islamophobia: Let's
embrace Pakistan in
its hour of need
after this month's
devastating floods
in the same way that
we rushed to aid
Haiti after the
earthquake.
The
Pakistan flooding,
which has displaced
an estimated 20
million people, is
one of those natural
disasters that can
break through the
usual political
barriers and
resentments. It
reminds us of our
human bond with
people who are
suffering on a scale
that's hard to
conceive. The Haiti
quake produced such
an outpouring of
assistance, but
there hasn't yet
been a comparable
response from
Americans to the
Pakistan disaster.
Where is
the surge of private
contributions? Where
are the movie stars
whose private jets
were queued up in
Port au Prince?
Where are Anderson
Cooper and the other
journalists who
rushed to Haiti?
Where are Barack and
Michelle Obama, and
why can't they adopt
the Pakistani people
in the way Bill and
Hillary Clinton did
with Haiti?
Read More
The human tragedy
unfolding in
Pakistan right now
demands our full
attention.
Flooding there has
already stranded 20
million people, more
than 10 percent of
the population. A
fifth of the nation
is underwater. More
than 3.5 million
children are in
imminent danger of
contracting cholera
and acute diarrhea;
millions more are in
danger of starving
if they don't get
help soon. More than
1,500 have already
been killed by the
floods.
This is a human
disaster.
It's also a
frightening opening
for the Taliban.
Yet so far only a
trickle of aid has
gotten through. As
of today (Thursday),
the U.S. has pledged
$150 million, along
with 12 helicopters
to take food and
material to the
victims. (Other rich
nations have offered
even less - the
U.K., $48.5 million;
Japan, $10 million,
and France, a measly
$1 million. Today
(Thursday), Hillary
Clinton is speaking
at the UN, seeking
more.)
This is bizarre and
shameful. We're
spending over $100
billion this year on
military maneuvers
to defeat the
Taliban in Pakistan
and neighboring
Afghanistan. Over
200 helicopters are
deployed in that
effort. And we're
spending $2 billion
in military aid to
Pakistan.
More must be done
for flood victims,
immediately.
Read More
When it
comes to the mosque
that's neither too
close to Ground Zero
for its proponents
nor far enough away
for its opponents,
the disturbing word
"compromise" is now
being tossed around.
It has been
suggested by
New York Gov. David
Paterson,
Archbishop Timothy
M. Dolan
and, in Sunday's
Post,
Karen Hughes,
once an important
adviser to George W.
Bush. These are all
well-meaning people,
but they do not
understand that in
this case, the
difference between
compromise and
defeat is
nonexistent.
This is
not a complicated
matter. If you
believe that an
entire religion of
upward of a billion
followers attacked
the United States on
Sept. 11, 2001, then
it is understandable
that locating a
mosque near the
fallen World Trade
Center might be
upsetting. But the
facts are otherwise.
Islam was not in on
the attack -- just a
sliver of believers.
That being the case,
those people with
legitimate hurt
feelings are
mistaken. They need
our understanding,
not our indulgence.
Read More
For a moderate
Muslim who has lived
continuously in the
West for more than
thirty-eight years,
the protests against
the interfaith
center proposed for
Lower Manhattan is a
wakeup call.
It highlights a deep
distrust of Muslims
and of our moderate
belief system. In my
version of Islam, I
share my God and
prophets with the
Christians and the
Jews, and hold them
in equal reverence.
I firmly believe
that our religion is
determined at birth
by God and we must
respect all
religions. The only
role of religion in
my life is to give
me hope and help me
become a good
citizen.
I do not need to
grow a beard but
those that do for
symbolism are
exercising their
personal freedom --
and, perhaps without
realizing it, are
helping the
environment by not
wasting the water
and energy consumed
in the shaving
process. I do not
need any
intermediary to pray
for me to God, and
strongly believe in
the absolute
separation of church
and state.
Read More
In the
upcoming elections
of 2010, many
Pakistani Americans
are running for
public offices at
different levels,
Local, State, and
National. One of
the objectives of
PAKPAC is to
encourage such
participation and to
empower and support
the candidates. Two
such candidates who
are running for
State Senate and
Delegate position in
the State of
Maryland are current
State Delegate
Saqib
Ali who is running
for the office of
State Senator in
District 39, and
Shukoor Ahmad who is
running for State
Delegate from
District 23 A. We
ask PAKPAC
supporters to
financially support
election campaign of
these two
outstanding
individuals. Primary
in Maryland is two
weeks away, if you
live in Maryland or
know of people
living in Maryland,
and then please ask
them to volunteer
for their campaigns,
more information
about these
candidates can be
found at
Republicans are
riding high on anti
incumbent mood in
eth country, and
have a shot at
taking over the
Congress starting
Jan 2011. Though the
current polls show
Congress switch a
close call, with
Democrats holding
220 seats vs
Republicans 215 in
House of
Representatives, and
Democrats holding 50
Senate seats vs 48
for Republicans. At
State level
Republicans could
have Governors in 32
states an increase
of 8.
Read latest polls.
PAKPAC
asks you to
participate in
remaining primary
elections in your
state, voter turnout
at primary elections
is usually low, and
as a result an
increased
participation by
minority communities
can make a
significant
difference. Next
major primary
election is on Sep
14th in 8
mostly Northeastern
states. Calendar
of primary
elections.
President Obama
signed into law
Public Law 111-230,
which contains
provisions to
increase certain
H-1B and L-1
petition fees.
Effective
immediately, Public
Law 111-230 requires
the submission of an
additional fee of
$2,000 for certain
H-1B petitions and
$2,250 for certain
L-1A and L-1B
petitions postmarked
on or after Aug. 14,
2010, and will
remain in effect
through Sept. 30,
2014.
These additional
fees apply to
petitioners who
employ 50 or more
employees in the
United States with
more than 50 percent
of its employees in
the United States in
H-1B or L (including
L-1A, L-1B and L-2)
nonimmigrant
status. Petitioners
meeting these
criteria must submit
the fee with an H-1B
or L-1 petition
filed:
·
Initially to grant
an alien
nonimmigrant status
described in
subparagraph (H)(i)(b)
or (L) of section
101(a)(15), or
·
To obtain
authorization for an
alien having such
status to change
employers.
USCIS is in the
process of revising
the Petition for a
Nonimmigrant Worker
(Form I-129), and
instructions to
comply with Public
Law 111-230. To
facilitate
implementation of
Public Law 111-230,
USCIS recommends
that all H-1B, L-1A
and L-1B
petitioners, as part
of the filing
packet, include the
new fee or a
statement of other
evidence outlining
why this new fee
does not apply.
USCIS requests that
petitioners include
a notation of
whether the fee is
required in bold
capital letters at
the top of the cover
letter. Where USCIS
does not receive
such explanation
and/or documentation
with the initial
filing, it may issue
a Request for
Evidence (RFE) to
determine whether
the petition is
covered by the
public law. An RFE
may be required even
if such evidence is
submitted, if
questions remain.
The additional fee,
if applicable, is in
addition to the base
processing fee, the
existing Fraud
Prevention and
Detection Fee, and
any applicable
American
Competitiveness and
Workforce
Improvement Act of
1998 (ACWIA) fee,
needed to file a
petition for a
Nonimmigrant Worker
(Form I-129), as
well as any premium
processing fees, if
applicable.
State Department has
following openings,
Please click here (http://careers.state.gov/ap-jobs)
for more information
about
qualifications, the
selection process,
compensation and
benefits, etc.
ISPU(
www.ispu.org
)is currently
seeking a
Communications
intern in
Washington, DC to
work directly with
our Executive
Director to help
expand ISPU’s
visibility in the
media and among
policy makers. This
is an unpaid, part
time or full time
internship. We will
support requirements
for academic credit.
There is a stipend
available if the
intern is required
to travel for ISPU
meetings or events.
Please send your
resume, cover
letter, and a short
(3 page) writing
sample to
info@ispu.org
by Sept. 1, 2010.
Please list “ISPU
Communications
Internship” in the
subject line of your
email. No phone
calls, please.
The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) is a nationwide, membership based, non-profit lobbying organization registered with the United States Federal Government. PAKPAC’s mission includes advancement and strengthening of U.S.-Pakistan relations. It is organized to be a unified voice on issues and concerns common to the Pakistani American community. PAKPAC’s focus includes an active environment to foster greater political and civic engagement amongst the Pakistani Americans. PAKPAC is also focused on collaborating with other regional and national Pakistani American organizations to ensue increased efficacy and reduced duplication of the stated goals. PAKPAC along with our affiliates is working to serve as a watch dog for inaccuracies and bias in media coverage about Pakistan and Pakistani Americans. We are also involved in educating media groups, journalists, politicians, academicians and members of think tanks about views of concern and importance to the Pakistani American community.
DISCLAIMER This e-newsletter is sponsored by PAKPAC for its readers and supporters. The items contained herein are published as submitted and are provided for general information purposes only. This information is not advice. Readers should not rely solely on this information, but should make their own inquiries before making any decisions. PAKPAC works to maintain up-to-date information from reliable sources; however, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions or results of any actions based upon this information. If you have any questions regarding any of these items, contact the organizational representative of that source. This e-newsletter may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organizations. These site owners have intellectual property rights of the content. PAKPAC does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on these websites, nor does it guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented there. Furthermore, visitors should be aware that other sites linked from this e-newsletter may use persistent cookies that track visitor viewing habits.
Recent
flood disaster has
created a high level
of awareness amongst
our youth to help
Pakistani people in
need. A number of
events are being
planned throughout
the country with
this intent. On Sep
18th
students of American
University are
partnering with
students from other
universities in
Washington DC area
to hold a fund
raiser. Students in
Long Island, New
York, plan to hold a
walk-a-thon to raise
funds for the flood
victims. PAKPAC
urges upon parents
of Pakistani
American students to
empower such
activities and
provide financial
and logistic
support. We ask you
to channel your
relief dollars
through events held
by Pakistani
American Students.
