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For Immediate Release:
Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC)
Representative Meeting with the United States Agency Representatives
Chicago, September 3rd, 2006: The
Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee President -elect, Dr. Saud
Anwar had a series of meetings with multiple different United States
Government agency representatives. Some of these meetings were held
under the auspices of Islamic Society of North America’s (ISNA) Annual
Convention in Chicago.
The meeting included meeting Mr. Daniel
Sutherland, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties officer for the
Department of Homeland Security. In the presence of the Mr. Brain J
Humphrey of the Customs and Border Patrol, discussion was held at the
alarmingly high rate of traveler’s difficulties from Pakistan to
United States and the unusual delay and questions that were being
asked on the United States Citizens returning from overseas travel.
Concerns were raised about the perception in the community about
profiling. Mr. Sutherland restated to the leadership of the American
Muslims at the meeting about the Departments official policy of no
ethnic or religious profiling. This was also recently (August 31st,
2006) clearly re-iterated by Secretary Michael Chertoff in a USA Today
interview. The members of Federal Bureau of Investigation, US
Department of Justice and US Department of Homeland Security office of
Strategic Plans were also present in the meeting.
Another meeting was held which included the Mr.
Alex Michael Azar, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS). Dr. Anwar asked Mr. Azar about the role of the
American Muslims with a high proportion of health care professionals
to help DHHS within United States and also with initiatives in some of
the Muslim Majority Countries. Discussion was held about the
resurgence of polio in many of the Countries including India and
Pakistan and the role PAKPAC can provide in helping identify
appropriate partners in Pakistan with projects to help stop this
resurgence. USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Mark Ward was also
present in the meeting. Dr. Anwar thanked Mr. Ward for the very
important role USAID and Mark Ward have played in the immediate,
intermediate and the rehabilitative phase of the October 2005 Pakistan
earthquake.
Dr. Anwar also met with Randy Beardsworth,
Assistant Secretary for Strategic Plans for the Department of Homeland
Security about the important policy initiatives that are necessary to
help the Pakistani Americans and American Muslims continue to remain a
part of the mainstream American community, and play an ongoing vital
role in the growth and prosperity of United States.
Dr. Anwar has asked the Pakistani American and
American Muslim community members to remain active in their
communities and neighborhoods. Report any hate crimes, or activities
of discrimination, and travel difficulties. People need to come
forward and publicly inform their respective organizations about their
difficulties. Challenges and difficulties that are not shared and publicly told are not
heard. It is our collective responsibility to give appropriate
information to the policy makers so that appropriate educated policies
are made.
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 |
