Due to renovation delays at ‘Pakistan House’ we will unfortunately have to postpone our Eid Milan Dinner, originally scheduled for this Sunday October 29th until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely hope you can join us on the new date. If you have obtained a ticket please hold on to it as it will be honoured on the newly scheduled date.

Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim Brothers and Sisters. Eid-ul-Fitr has been confirmed for Monday October 23rd. Please visit www.thebcma.com for locations of Eid Prayers in your area or attend Eid Namaaz at our Vancouver Masjid located at 655 West 8th Avenue at 8 am.

October 15th Pakistan-Canada Association successfully held its Second Annual General Body Meeting to approve the long-awaited financial statements and to reestablish the Community Center Committee. Financial statements for the Community Trust, Islamic Trust and Earthquake Fundraising effort were presented by Raza Mirani, Jamil Chaudhry and Sabir Pannun respectfully. Questions were fielded and the statements were approved unanimously. This brings to a close the chapter on our Earthquake Fundraising campaign… special thanks to Mr. Sabir Pannun for taking on the immense responsibility of overseeing this campaign from start to finish. The second item to be discussed was reaffirming the existing Community Center Committee and adding addtional members to it. The following individuals were approved by the General Body with one abstention:

Raza Mirani (Current President), Salim Karim (Current Chairman of Islamic Trust), Sabir Pannun, Jamil Chaudhry, Saleem Gehlen, Munir Riasat, Liaqat Khan, Ihsan Malik, Naimat Khan, Shafqat Bajwa, Haroon Khan, Tarik Kiani, Mohd. Afzal Malik, Malik Irfan, Azher Syed, Mohd. Shamsi, Sanaullah Chaudhry, Liaqat Bajwa, Aftab Alam

This committee will now meet and decide on a number of sub-committees specific to the needs and tasks for the Community Center Project.

Finally, the name of our center was also on the agenda and a motion was put on the floor and unanimously accepted to approve the name, ‘Pakistan House.’

Thank you to everyone who attended and congratulations once again to the community for the birth of Pakistan House.

Pakistan-Canada Association’s Annual General Body Meeting was scheduled for October 8th, 2006 at 11:00 am in Surrey, 12059 88th Avenue, the site of ‘Pakistan House.’ First call was made at 11:00 am with no quorum and second call was made at 11:30 am with no quorum. According to our constitution the meeting has been postponed to the same time and place one week later, Sunday Oct 15th. Members in attendance were:

Raza Mirani, Salim Karim, Sabir Pannun, Aftab Alam, Farrukh Alam, Jamil Chaudhry, Sanaullah Chaudhry, Ihsan Malik, Liaqat Bajwa, Habib Bajwa, Iftikhar Ahmed (Asian Star), Mohd. Siddique Chaudhry, Azhar Syed, Mohd. Afzal Malik, Tarik Kiani, Pervez Akhtar, Saleem Gehlen, Malik Irfan, Noor Mohammed, Ghulam Mohammed, Mohd. Pirzada

Thank you to these members for attending.

Dear Respected Community Members,

On September 22nd, 2006 in an interview aired on CTV, Honourable MP and Defense Critic, Ujjal Dosanjh stated that ‘Pakistan was harbouring terrorists.’ An unfounded statement of this nature coming from a respected elected official, in any context, is wrong. As Pakistani-Canadians it is our duty to defend the integrity of Canada and Pakistan. This comment, from a Pakistani point of view, demonstrated a blatant disregard for the sacrifices made by Pakistan and its Armed Forces in the fight against terror.

As an association it was our duty to hold Mr. Dosanjh accountable for his words and to arrange a meeting with him and the Pakistani community where a discussion could take place and answers found. An apology for what are indeed unfounded comments was expected at this meeting but Mr. Dosanjh refused to meet with the greater community on any level except for a closed door meeting with a few representatives. Having refused this offer to meet with Mr. Dosanjh under these circumstances Mr. Dosanjh chose to appear on Radio India on October 8th from 8 am to 10 am for an interview on this topic. PCA having not been officially invited to attend this interview did not take part; instead an informal meeting between representatives of PCA and PCCA took place to discuss how to approach this situation. It was agreed that General Secretaries from both organizations, Mr. Tarik Kiani and Mr. Tanveer Chaudhry respectively, would call in to question Mr. Dosanjh. After much debate Mr. Dosanjh concluded the interview with an apology to the Pakistani community for his comments.

We would like to thank Mr. Dosanjh for his apology and for addressing an issue that struck the sensitivities of all Pakistanis. We would like to also thank the Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association of BC for standing with us and taking a joint stand on this issue. As Pakistanis we must never be afraid to stand up for what we believe and we must take advantage of the political system we are so fortunate to enjoy in Canada.

Sincerely,

Raza Mirani
President
Pakistan-Canada Association

One year ago today Pakistan was struck by one of the most devestating earthquakes in recent history. Countless lives were lost and an infinite number of people affected. Let us all prey during this month of Ramadaan for those that lost their lives and the families they left behind.

Dear Respected Community Members,

The comments made by the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh on Friday September 22nd, 2006 have deeply hurt and offended the Pakistani community. To state that ‘Pakistan is harbouring terrorists,’ insinuates that the government of Pakistan is knowingly and willingly providing safe haven to known terrorists within its borders. This goes against everything Pakistan has done since September 11, 2001 and continues to do.

Pakistan-Canada Association and Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association have invited Mr. Dosanjh to attend an open meeting with members of the Pakistani community at ‘Pakistan House,’ 12059 88th Avenue in Surrey. So far Mr. Dosanjh has refused instead insisting on a closed door meeting with 4 or 5 representatives of the Pakistani community in his constituency office in Vancouver. Both organizations have refused this offer.

It is vitally important that as Pakistanis we defend the character and honour of our mother country. We must not let unfounded allegations go unanswered and we must expect our elected representatives to honour our wishes and meet with us when invited. We will remain vigilant on this cause and will remain focused on our goal of seeking a full and public apology by Mr. Dosanjh for his comments.

Sincerely,

Raza Mirani
President
Pakistan-Canada Association

Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh
Constituency Office
6408 Fraser Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V5W 3A4

October 2, 2006

Dear Mr. Dosanjh,

As the leading representative organization for Pakistanis in the Lower Mainland we are shocked and dismayed at the recent comments attributed to you in a televised interview on CTV which aired on Friday September 22nd, 2006. Stating that ‘Pakistan is harbouring terrorists,’ insinuates that the government of Pakistan is wilfully offering shelter to known terrorists. Without proof of such an allegation an immediate apology is necessary. Pakistan has been one of the leading forces behind the ‘War on Terror.’ To make such a comment at this time only serves to mislead the Canadian community and drive a further spike into the racial tension that already exists in today’s day and age. An individual in your position and with your experience knows that a comment like this has a long and lasting impression with the greater community. Pakistan-Canada Association has been working tirelessly to paint Pakistan with a different brush then is being portrayed in the mass media, and comments like yours only serves to undermine any efforts and progress we have made.

We are aware that a Trustee from our association, Mr. Haroon Khan, has been in touch with you and that you have indicated you would be interested in meeting with members of the Pakistani community. Pakistan-Canada Association needs to be a prominent player in any such meeting. We have recently acquired a property in Surrey at 12059 88th Avenue that will become a community center for all Pakistanis; we would like any meeting you intend to have to be held at this site. Our recommendation is that a meeting be held Sunday October 8th at approximately 3:00 pm at this location. Please confirm whether this time fits with your schedule and we will make the necessary arrangements to inform the community. We hope an apology is forthcoming at this meeting and that this issue can be put behind us.

Sincerely,

Tarik Kiani
General Secretary
Pakistan-Canada Association

Liberal MP and Defense Critic Ujjal Dosanjh has agreed to meet with the Pakistani community of the Lower Mainland in the next two weeks to discuss his comments against Pakistan and the backlash it has created. Visit www.pakcan.com for updates.