Volume 1, Issue 3 August 2013
SINDHI AMERICAN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
SINDH GUARDIAN
Inside this issue: Transcripts from SAPAC’s 4th Annual Celebration
Congressman Brad Sherman 2-4
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney 5-6
Congressman Adam Schiff 6
Honorable Tommy Wells 7-8
Mr. Nathir Lalchandani 8-9
Dr. Shashi Lalvani 9-11
Dr. Gul Agha 12-14
Mr. Shankar Lakhavani 14-15
About the speakers 15 Page 2 SINDH GUARDIAN
Congressman Brad Sherman Hello, I‟m Brad Sherman form California‟s best-named city, Sherman Oaks. It‟s a pleasure to be with you again, as I have been here at each one of the dinners of this organization. Pro- fessor I listened to you comments carefully. It is interesting that a court would reject DNA evi- dence, because it is not mention in sharia. Fin- gerprint evidence is also not mentioned any- where in the Quran, but fingerprint evidence is chiefly used to convict people who have commit- ted violence against men, and killed them, or stolen their property. DNA evidence is not men- tioned in the Quran its single greatest use is to convict men for crimes of violence against wom- en. Suddenly one type of evidence not men- tioned in the Quran is accepted for 50 years, the other a new form of evidence available chiefly to protect women is somehow anti-Islamic. I don‟t think that the true profit and those around him would sit here quietly and to see the Quran abused for such ends. With me here are my two aids, Siamak Kordestani, who is my advisor on foreign policy. well. Just as he helped the people of Sindh with Siamak himself is from an ethnic and religious technical education, Sufi and this organization, minority in south-west Asia area, so he has some this Sindhi Pac, has provided me with an educa- identification from those of you from Sindh. Also tion on the people of Sindh, and there natural re- with me is Mark. Mark has recently joined me as spect for the values that make America great, due my advisor on economic issues, and if you can impart to moderate and Sufi influenced form of give either one of these staffers your card, I will Islam. stay in touch with you and keep you up to date. Pakistan is perhaps the most difficult, diplo- Although, I know that Sufi does an outstanding matic, and national security problem. It is so close job at that. to everything we are concerned about; whether it I should begin by saying Sindhee marhun be Afghanistan, our relations to the Islamic world, khay salahm bhaleekahr. I want to thank Sufi for and those few who have perverted Islam for their everything he‟s done to promote Sindhi and the own purposes. It is the only unstable nuclear state US relationship with the people of Sindh. In re- and a country with which we maintain a frien-emy cent years he has been joined by him wife Fati- kind of relationship. For past few years, I‟d been ma. What an outstanding team. As many of you urging the congress and especially the admin- know, I am a senior member of the House of For- istration to reach out to the Sindhi people that eign Affairs Committee, and joined with col- have been marginalized by their own government, leagues in founding the Sindh Caucus, which and to reach out in the Sindhi language, and with now includes Tom Petri, who wished he was respect for Sindhi culture. If we buy into the views here, Carolyn Maloney, who was here, and Ad- of a few in Islamabad, who believe that Pakistan am Schiff, who will be here electronically, and will be some homogenous state with everyone Representative John Lewis, the conscious of the speaking Urdu, we will misunderstand Pakistan, United States Congress. I‟ve had a close rela- we will not develop a relationship with the Paki- tionship with the people of Sindh since before I stani people, and we will certianly not develop a was born, since 1951. My grandfather was there relationship with the people of the southern third working for the United Nations International La- of Pakistan in Sindh. We must join with the Sin- bor Committee. He was a specialist in technical dhis in opposing the effort to glorify extremism education. He talked often of the time he spent in and violence in Pakistan, and all the things the Sindh as my grandmother spoke of it often as professor was talking about before me. We can VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 3
best do that by reaching out to the people of Urdu.” The fact is that, many in rural Sindh can Sindh, not thinking we can talk to those in the say a few phrases in Urdu, but that‟s not how you government in Islamabad. reach out to them and convince them of the benef- icence of the United States. I speak a few phrases Just last week, Congressman Dana of Spanish, a few phrases of Italian, but if you Rohrabacher and I introduced to the Defense were gonna try and sell me a car or an ideology, Authorization Act. I want to bring that to your at- its best you do it in English. You saw me early in tention, although many of you know about it. this speech demonstrate at least one phrase of Keep in mind the vast majority of our extremely Sindhi, yet none of you would argue that a Sindhi large amount of aid of Islamibad goes to the de- language radio station is the best way to persuade fense bill. They give almost 2 billion dollars a Mark or myself of any particular ideology. We year. It goes through the Coalition don‟t have to listen to Is- Support Funds program. We pro- lamabad, because we vided a requirement on that can instead look at program before further funds what happened on are dispersed. That is that the “... you reach people in the the grounds in the president must analyze the language that they are most Sindh province; thir- situation and disperse the ty radio stations are funds only if he can certify comfortable with, not the broadcasting in Sin- that Pakistan is not using any language the government says is dhi supported by of our military aid or fund, any tens of thousand of of our equipment to perse- most politically correct.” advertisers who do cute minority groups for their business in Sindh. legitimate and non-violent po- They know how to get a litical and religious involvement. message across; I‟m This specifically needs to include the afraid that there are those at the Voice of America Baloch as well the Sindhis, the Hazara and other who don‟t. We will be pressing them because, just minority religious and ethnic groups, including the this week, the full committee is going to meet for Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadiyya. The amend- hearings on the Voice of American and our broad- ment was passed, as part of a group of amend- casting program. And I am going to again, and ments, unanimously by the House of Representa- again going to bring up the fact that my amend- tives. It is part of the bill that we sent to the Sen- ment was passed overwhelmingly by a committee ate. You may have seen its coverage in the Hin- to say that we should be broadcasting in Sindh, du Stand times and a number other South Asian and a spending again the 1.5 million dollars a year publications, and I think the message will get to do so. To think that we could reach tens of mil- through to Islamibad, that the people of America lions of people by spending a billion and a half don‟t want to see our aid used to persecute the dollars, and yet, due to the political pressure that ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan. you are gonna win a popularity contest at an ISI A number of us, including Carolyn Maloney, party. That‟s not where we should be trying to win who was here, Tom Petri, the republican from the popularity contest; it should be to be popular Wisconsin, have sent a letter to the relevant ap- with all of the people in Pakistan. propriations sub committee calling for them to I was just on the phone with the State Depart- embrace the strongest possible language, that ment to press them, not only on this issue, be- 1.5 million dollars be spent by the Voice of Ameri- cause I want a clear answer from our embassy in ca to broadcast in the Sindhi language. We‟ve Islamabad as to where they stand as to broadcast- got some opposition from inside the administra- ing in the Sindh language. But I‟m also pressing tion. People who said, “Oh, we can be more pop- them to reach out in the Sindh language by web, ular with the powers that be in Islamabad if we website, and Facebook. I‟m told we have some- embrace their view that everybody in Pakistan thing on the web in Sindhi. We have a few things speaks Urdu.” In fact the administration got back on our Facebook page. It‟s surprising to learn that to us and said, “Oh, we can just reach to the peo- our Facebook page draws far more interest in Pa- ple of Pakistan in Urdu. We were told by the Pa- kistan than the does our website. But we can‟t just kistani government that everybody understands Page 4 SINDH GUARDIAN
(Continued from page 3) That program annually brings to the United States journalist from all over the world to meet and con- put up a few press releases; everything we are fer with professional counterparts here in the Unit- trying to communicate to the people of Pakistan ed States. Due to the work of the people in this should be in Urdu, yes, and in Punjabi, yes, and room, our caucus, and this Pac, we’ve nally able in Sindhi and maybe Balochi as well, and they to put Sindh on the State Department’s map. are doing a reasonably good job in Pushtu. So whether you are trying to sell an ideology in Pa- In December, a number of us, including now kistan, or you are trying to sell cars in Los Ange- former Congressman Robert Dold, and I speared les, you reach people in the language that they in an e ort, we got 15 members of Congress to join are most comfortable with, not the language the us to urge that Secretary of State Clinton push for government says is most politically correct. greater rights and protections for religious right of That’s why thirty radio stations are able to sup- minorities in Pakistan. A number of us were out- port themselves on Sindhi language advertising. raged at the treatment of young Hindu girls in vari- ous Pakistan, including, unfortunately Sindh. As a Our state department had done some good senior member of the Foreign A airs Committee, things, in part because of the pressure of your and an active member of the International Reli- organization and the Sindhi Caucus in Congress. gious Freedom Caucus, I believe that we have to The Karachi conciliate senior media advisor is a ght to protect the ethnic and religious minorities in native Sindhi speaker, and it is his job to reach Pakistan. In conclusion, we’ve done a lot since our out to the people of Sindh. Now in addition to caucus was formed in Jan of 2011; you’ve done a that, the ambassador has toured Sindh on more done a lot since this Pac was formed just a few than one occasion, and I think is nally opening years ago. I look forward to building on our friend- up to the importance of that region. The State ship. Department is doing a better job on focusing on economic development, health, culture, and me- I want to thank a lot of people in this room for dia activities in Sindh. Ambassadors Olsen’s two the fact that I am standing here; not just those of -day visit to Sindh included, and this was just a you who invited me to a free dinner, but those who few months ago, he met with the student activist made sure I can stand here as a re -elected mem- civil society, business, the media, political lead- ber of Congress. As it happened, I was up in a ers; he toured the city of Jacobabad, city of Suk- race against a very capable man who had served kur. I hope that you will not evaluate my under- 30 years in Congress and I am now committed to standing of these issues by my pronunciation serving another 30 years in Congress, because of capacity. I hope my technical understanding the electoral success we had there. I couldn’t have beats my pronunciation, but I will continue to try. done it without the some of the people in this room Ambassador Olsen was joined by a key o cial of who helped me out, who gave me advice, and who AID, the Sindh minister of health, and the Sindh gave me nancial resources. I look forward on minister of rehabilitation. The ambassador spoke building my friendship with you and building upon at the groundbreaking ceremony to o cially initi- the friendship between the American people and ate construction of the Jacobabad institute of the Sindhi people. As G.M. Syed said a few dec- medical science which is a state of the ark hospi- ades ago, “we have been Sindhis for ve thousand tal. The United States is providing 10 million dol- years, Muslims for ve hundred years, and at that lars for that facility, and this will expand access time Pakistanis for forty years.” We need to be to to quality healthcare for, not only the residents of reach out to the people of Sindh with that kind of Jacobabad but people in neighboring areas as understanding; that this is a truly ancient civiliza- well. The ambassador also visited Daraza to pay tion that has and its own culture, its own language, respects at the shrine of the Su poet, Sachal Sur- its own approach to Islam for hundreds and hun- mast. As you know that poet died in 1829 after dreds of years. Those who thing that we can reach 90 years of life and the ambassador met with all of Pakistan by going to parties with ISI o cials Sindhi journalist in television. Last year the State in Islamabad do not understand Sindh, do not un- department o ered an international visitor lead- derstand the other part of Pakistan as well. As ership program to Sindhi speaking journalist; this many have said, - Jiye Sindh! Thank you very marks the st time that any state department much. exchange programs has been o ered in Sindhi. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 5
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Thank you so much Dr. Bhatti outreach mission. I am honored to and all of you. It is my great honor be a part of the bipartisan to be here with you today. I was at Congressional Sindh Caucus and I your event last year and have have a profound respect for the joined the caucus that Brad Sindhi people, the culture, the Sherman heads so brilliantly. The history, and the important role that problem is that I represent New Sindhis and Sindhi Americans can York City and I have to get back play in opposing extremism and tonight and the last plane is at 9 violence and all of its forms. That is o’clock. So I have to run back, but one of the reasons why along with Dr. Bhatti has made sure that I my fellow caucus members, Brad will focus on this very important Sherman, Thomas Petri, we sent a bill that has passed the house. It letter this month to the Secretary of has passed the house and is now State Kerry requesting that the State in the Senate that non of the Department produce a version of the military equipment or supplies US -Karachi consulate website in the should be directed towards Sindhi language. And we are human rights, towards the hopeful that Secretary of State Kerry Sindhis, women, children, or will respond to our request. We anyone else. I would take that pointed out that the response to further and say that we need a full pervious outreach in the Sindhi accounting of where any language has been positive, from American aid goes, and it should opinion leaders, like intellectuals, be distributed proportionately and journalist. We also sent a letter throughout the country. He tells me that the to the Appropriations Subcommittee on state foreign Sindhi people do not receive the aid that it justly operations asking that they set aside 1.5 million of the deserves. I want to particularly thank Su funds made available for the voice of America to be Laghari for inviting me to SAPAC and making used exclusively for the purpose of Voice of America sure that I got here. First of all, I would like to Sindhi language broadcasting. This needs to be a two - applaud all of you for the important outreach way conversation. Another priority that I share with work you are doing with SAPAC. It’s not just in SAPAC is ending the mistreatment of minorities, and of your interest, but its very much in America’s women and children. This has always been a subject national interest for us to know and understand close to my heart, and putting an end to these types of more fully the histories and views of the Sindhi crimes is what makes a civilization great. According to people. And in our e orts to use public the US State Department tra cking in persons report of diplomacy to battle extremism, there is no place 2011, Pakistan is listed as a source, transit, and in the world where it is more important for the destinations country for tra cking in persons. This is United States to have reliable friends and allies something that we need to work together to stop. Much than in Pakistan. The more that Americans of the tra cking is motivated by extremes of poverty understand about just who you are, who the and is concentrated in the Sindhi province. Children Sindhi people are, the better it will be for all of work as modern day slaves in brick kills, making us, and the easier it will be to craft more carpets, and mines, and making cheap glass bangles. e ective and more Sindhi -friendly policies. An estimated 70% of those tra cked are females under the age of 25. In Pakistan today, Sindhis of all ages I think a great deal of Americans would be have su ered terribly at the hands of their own surprised to learn that in 2006, I was surprised government. Women have su ered at the hands of their to learn this, the best selling poet in America own countrymen and children have su ered at the was not Walt Whitman, Dickenson, Robert hands of human tra ckers. Sadly for now a world Frost, or Emerson, but a 13th century Su united against cruelty, against intolerance, inequality, mystic Rumi, the number one selling poet in extremism and violence is only a place that the poets America. That is really something. So thank you dream of. If you compare the savagery of the daily again for undertaking your education and reality for millions to the lyrical and loving elegance of a Page 6 SINDH GUARDIAN
(Continued from page 5) said a poet is someone who can pour light into a cup, then raise it to nourish your beautiful, parched, world as envisioned by the great Sufi poets and holy heart. Together let us fill a cup with light and mystics, the dizzying dissonance that these two raise it together in a toast to mutual friendship and pictures create produces a message that orders understanding between two great people, the heart into action. Written in a language that is Americans and the Sindhis, and may it nourish your understood by all. I have seen your work, and I beautiful, holy heart and your holy cause. Thank you have heard your message and I agree with you for inviting me today. I wish I could stay all evening. whole-heartedly that we must find a way to unite In the future don‟t have it on Friday nights, I have to together in a way that transcends the barriers of work weekends. I have to leave and go back to New language, culture, and religion, while preserving York. Thank you for your good work and thank you the rights of all to preserve their own culture and for all that you are doing for democracy and equality follow their own conscience. The great Sufi mystic and fair treatment to all peoples. Thank you very Hafiz once described the purpose of a poet. He much. Congressman Adam Schiff Good evening, I‟m Congressman Adam Schiff suffering in recent years from too much rainfall. I from California‟s 28th district and I apologize for have also pushed for more dialogue in the Sindhi not being able to be with you this year, but I language. wanted to send my warmest greetings to all of you as you celebrate SAPAC‟s 4th Anniversary. Speaks Sindhi: These are challenging times for all Pakistani‟s, while the country continues to lurch from crisis to crisis, the recent elections are a milestone as a democratically elected government completed its term and then lost the subsequent ballot. While I know that many of people of Sindh voted over- whelmingly for the PPP, this is nonetheless a victory for democracy and one that should be celebrated and acknowledged. I‟ve long admired For those of you who are not as fluent in the the people of Sindh, they have been buffeted by Sindhi language as I am, what I said is that I believe the challenges facing Pakistan as a whole from it is important for the United States to communicate poverty and natural disasters, to the growing with other peoples in their languages, it is a sign of religious extremism of some Pakistani‟s, and the respect for others, and it reduces the chances of capriciousness, corruption and ineffectiveness of miscommunication. I believe that this is an important the government in Islamabad. Indeed geography diplomatic tool, especially with respect to Sindh. So I and demography have made Sindh especially am pushing for the 2014 State Foreign Operations vulnerable to both natural and man-made chal- Appropriations Bill to contain language pressing the lenges. And yet Sindh remains the most tolerant Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to explore part of Pakistan, its Sufi traditions, welcoming the feasibility of beginning Sindhi transmissions on infusions from other cultures create a more the Voice of America to Pakistan. I‟ve also joined hopeful vision of what Pakistan could be and can with my colleagues Brad Sherman and Carolyn be if we continue to press Islamabad to simulta- Maloney in sending a letter to Secretary of State neously confront extremists and curb anti- John Kerry asking him to produce a version of our democratic forces within the military and the ISI. I Karachi Consulate‟s website in Sindh. As the letter continue to speak to Pakistani officials regarding notes, Sindh is spoken by 12% of Pakistani‟s, and the country‟s blasphemy laws and strains of has more native speakers than Urdu. As the appro- intolerance, which is so hurtful to the people of priations process for 2014 continues, I‟ll continue to Sindh, but I have also seen the virtue of trying to press these issues and hope that sometime soon, with our government to create a stronger bond Sindhis will be able to hear the Voice of America with the people of Sindh within the context of our and read our Consulate‟s website in their own larger relationship with Pakistan. I have pressed language. Again many thanks for inviting me my for aid to help Sindhi people devastated by apologies for not be there in person and I wish you a flooding, and have been really moved by the wonderful evening. Thank you, and good night. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 7
Honorable Tommy Wells
Well, Munawar, I remember very well. You came up to me under the tree and said, “Are you Tommy Wells?”, and I said “yes.” And you said “ You‟re running for mayor, right?” and I said “yes”. You were so uncertain that that was me, but I know you would have not let your taxicab go unless you weren‟t certain that it was me under that tree. So we rode the bus together, and that was a very great start. Amazingly, the bus was on time and we went to the announcement, and I have to tell you it rained. I really felt like everyone that was there, really wanted to be there. So thank you for being a part of that, that meant a lot to me and also all you do in this community. This is part of the ward I represent, ward 6, right here at the Channel Inn right along the channel here, and it‟s a great part of Washington. I am honored to be here, and let me just that in listening to the talks and the speeches let me say this to Congressman Sherman. D.C., that it is not strange the it is growing, that Congressman Sherman, this is a very difficult the world‟s eye is on our city. The truth is that, in time in our country and elected leadership. A lot running for local leadership, in looking to of the message goes out that we are intolerant, becoming the mayor for Washington, I am very and anti people who aren‟t originally from aware the rest of the world‟s eye is upon us. How American, and sometimes we have a very mean we act, and how we treat those that live within face to the rest of the world. Congressman, you our boundaries, and the aspirations and how we really show what‟s best about our country; you act, hopefully is a message to the rest of the make be very proud. The story that I heard about world. We have certainly made great strides on you, right off the bat saying that I‟m going to be issues of marriage equity, and other issues part of this, you listened and are now providing related really to showing that we are a leadership. It makes be proud of my federal compassionate city, that we take care of the government, when sometimes I am not as proud. people in Washington and we embrace their So thank you for your leadership, and I would like diversity is something that I know that we have to to give you a hand as well. try to be a beacon, we have to be responsible, One of the things about being here, which is and we have to do this in a way that really shows great opportunity for me, is to learn more about our country well. the diversity of the different people that make up Let me also say, that here in the nation‟s this great country, and also make up this great capitol, much like the Sindhi people in Pakistan, city. Washington D.C. is the fastest growing city we do not have all the same rights and in America, and it‟s a city that you can see that representation in our national government. In we are building quite rapidly. We‟ve gone through Washington D.C., while we fight in our wars, we a recession that has affected the whole world, pay the same amount of taxes, and we take the but D.C., for now, is a growing city, a vibrant city, responsibility of stewardship in the name of our and why this group, what you‟re doing is so nation‟s capitol very seriously. We also important. In my estimation, from what I can tell understand that we must be a model for the in my meager observation of our country, world, especially during these uncertain times. Washington D.C. is the indispensible city for the What we share is the dignity, that we do not have next 15 years. As our world goes through a vote in our national government, that we are uncertainty, as different wars break out, but also not represented, and that, in the most powerful with the financial instability all through the world, body, the Senate, and in the House, that again, that this is now what we call the “Asian shift”, that the people of Washington D.C. do not have an Page 8 SINDH GUARDIAN
(Continued from page 7) elected representative. But that does not mean including you. So we have a duty, to really build that at any time, we lose or can put aside any upon and show and lead to our aspirations, and level of our citizenship and the responsibilities that‟s part of why you are here, calling us, and that come with that. We are citizens of the United calling on our elected officials. I love that you have States of America. We are citizens of the nation‟s formed a Pac; that‟s one of the most American capitol, and we have a duty and responsibility to things to do, a political action committee in order make our country proud, but also show the to see that you voice is heard, that your interests obligations of citizenship in a way that makes us are promoted, and that‟s why I am thrilled to see all proud. the number of congressman involved in this Pac. Again, I cannot say enough about Congressman As I‟ve learn more and more about the Sindhi Sherman in showing how good we can be. We all people, and learned about tolerance, see what is going on in Congress. Are we going to compassion, and liberalism, that we shared continue to provide food to the folks that need it together a vision, not just for our communities, through the farm bill? Are we going to continue to not just one province or one city, but truly share a provide health insurance or health care to vision for a world that is not only tolerant, but is a everyone that needs it? All of these things that I do world that can heal those that are injured, a world believe at a local level sometimes we have to lead. that take care of us in the beginning of our lives In D.C. we have the highest coverage of health and takes care of all of us towards the end of our care for children in America, second highest for lives equally, with dignity, and in a way that we adults for everyone in the country. Again, I believe are not really judged by our religion, judged by that our country really needs a symbol like our language, or judged in any other way. That‟s Washington, and that‟s why I am honored that you what I hope for the best of our country of the selected me to be here this evening. Thank you United States, because we are a country that is very much. made up of peoples from all across the world, Mr. Nathir Lalchandani Friends, if you permit me I will he stood in the street with open take mic in my hand, because like hands. You must have heard the Mr. Munwar Laghari it is also name of Mr. Birla, an Industrialist quiet. Let me take you back to the who asked him "Mahatmaji I will history of Sindhi Association give blank Check, write what ever Political Action Committee. If I amount you want." But you know remember correctly, it was about what Mahatmaji said? He said 25/30 years, Munwar came to my no, I want community involved, temple Satya Nrayan Mandir of even if some one gives me one which I have been President for rupee. I will accept rather than the last 25/30 years. It is in one million dollars/rupees from Queens, New York. Now, I have you. So this the history of Sindhi moved to Sacramento, California, Association, before it became after my wife passed away in SAPAC. Earlier I was Chief Guest January, 2012. Now, that I am in in one of his functions held in California, I will get more oppor- queens New York and once in tunity to meet Congressman Washington, when we had some Sherman. I am with my son, who artist/singers from Pakistan. I had water of Sindhu river. This is cancer specialist. Munwar told him then, listen "Munwar I diversion will ruin Sindh. That is Laghari has worked very hard, I will not help you politically but I exactly what has happened. must say like Mahatma Gandhi shall always help you culturally. This step motherly treatment started single handed. If you know Once, he told me that Munwar was fighting for! Some the history of India, Mahatmaji Pakistan Government is building of you might be aware that started non-violent movement and Dam in Punjab and this is going Sindh and Punjab were consid- one time when he needed funds, to affect Sindh by cutting down ered Grainery of pre-partition VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 9
India. Sindh in way has been you will get its fragrance in stay in New York, now I am in ruined agriculturally and eco- Maryland if not New York. It was California and I have come all nomically. I remember that so nice and where do you find the way from Sacramento to Sindhi business men of Hong such a quality. attend this program. Munwar Kong were trying to approach tried hard to get my telephone With political change in Gov- Government of Pakistan to give number and reached me and I ernment of Pakistan and now that them some concessions and really feel honored. Money is Nawaz Shariff government is there make Karachi semi-independent not every thing in life, fellow and he wants good relations with and they will make Karachi feeling, brotherhood and the India, may be time is right that better than Hong Kong, because way you at things is very im- Munwar and his team can work Hong Kong was going to be portant in life. with U.S.Government and get help taken over by Chinese but for sindhi community as whole. Finally, I hope next time he Pakistan Government did not will be able to gather bigger want. I must tell one more I do not know, what else to say crowd and with the help from interesting thing. The Basmati but four years in an organization U.S. Government and congress rice what you are eating now is like this is not much period and we man Like Brad Sherman and nothing in comparison all should support Munwar Laghari others, SAPAC team will "SUGDASI" rice of Sindh. If you and his to team to work and achieve its goal. Thank you. cook sugdasi rice in Washington achieve its goal. After 42 years of Dr. Shashi Lalvani know traditions from that region. And the priest, he rose up from his chair and folded his hands and he said thank you. So we really did not know what he was Dear friends, elected representatives of thanking us for. He common, it is my great pleasure and honor said our most to be here. First and foremost, the sweetest religious sites, the language is one that I heard in my cradle, sikhism actually and for me it was Sindhi; it makes me very originated in Punjab; proud. And recently, this is about 3 years the Punjab, which is ago, my wife Latika and I we ran Sadna now in Pakistan and School. This is a Sunday school format, for non cara. He said kids who grew up in India, kids who grew up those sites could not in American with Indian parents. And we try be met in by priest to impart them values, culture, tradition of from India; Indian India. And as a part of education about sikhs are not allowed religion, the great Indian tradition sikhism we to go to Pakistan and practice there. And he said wanted to introduce them to. So we took a trip to we have to rely upon sindhis, sindhi sikhs from out local Gudwara temple, a sec temple in the Sindh province who run our temples. And that Cincinnati. And we told them our need, that we make me really, really proud. Now, we have would like to bring kids to the temple and who heard about intolerance in Pakistan and anti- would attend the service. And he said do you terrorist organizations and all the negativity that know anything about our religion. Well so both we here about that country. Sindh is also not Latika and I spoke up. We said we are Sindhis and immune from the persecution of minorities, and part of the Sindhi tradition is to appreciate sikhism, professor Gul Agha spoke very eloquently to that. and there are, indeed, many Sindhi sikhism, But he also talked about the tolerance that still although we are not. We know sec rituals and we exists, the rights of minorities that are honored in Page 10 SINDH GUARDIAN
(Continued from page 9) dearly for writing that poem. And I know many in Sindh province. Sindhi is home to 93% of Hindus the audience know that. For me it was a discovery. in Pakistan, and that‟s a very, very large It was a discovery for the reason that there was, percentage. So despite that fact that we hear until about 5-10 years ago, an iron curtain in about Hindus being driven out from Sindh, who between India and Pakistan. We did not get the are now trying to find refuge in India, it does talk news about Pakistan; we did not get the news about the tolerance and the human rights support about Sindh. And it was much later that I learned that the Hindus and Sindh do enjoy to a certain about this poem, and it‟s a really moving and extent. Now, the portrait of Sindh that I have is touching poem. So I am going to read a few lines one that I have inherited from my parents, and from that. And he wrote this poem for his friend other Hindu Sindhis who have fled from Sindh Narasham, and Narasham had, by that time, during the time of partition. migrated to India. And he says By and large, most Hindus who left Sindh, were not due to the reason that there were conflicts between Sindhi Muslims and Sindhi Hindus, but it had to do with the fact that Muslims who were displaced from India and came to Sindh, wanted to “take revenge upon Hindus.” So in a way, we were driven out from Sindh by refugee Muslims from India. And that‟s the story I not only hear from my parents, but from my extended family, other Hindu friends, their parents. And many of these stories have not The poem says that on this side of the bottle I really been well chronicled, and that‟s something am standing, and across from me on the other that we really need to work on. My father, his side is Narasham. We speak the same language, best friend was his Bulakazi, and I have shared a we look the same, he‟s a poet Loret. I also know story about him. I wrote him a little note about it how to compose poetry. We are of the same soil, for my children, and I shared with Sufi, Munawar our lord is the same, our fears of persecution, and Laghari, and this was a bond that they enjoyed, he was referring to a politician of India. We have that my father would take him to the Hindu suffered from that to. I cannot lift a gun at him, I Temple in Halani in central Sindh. And those are cannot shoot at him. And Pakistan at the time was the things are the things you don‟t hear about suffering from dictatorship, and he was sent to now. So what it tells us is that Sindh could be a prison for writing this poem. And that shows the beacon, beacon of hope, beacon of tolerance, courage that Shaikayaz had for standing up for his because it has the great tradition. Sindh only people; not only that but more importantly for embodies the two great the Abrahamic religion, humanity. You have a map of Sindh on your table which was first brought to the subcontinent to and you can look at it. And Narasham in exile in Sindh, and Hinduism. And then, when I used to India and he was in New Deli at the time. When he talk to my mother in law, Latika‟s mother, her composed the poem and I‟ll read it again, I‟ll read best friend from Pakistan was Neelofer. My it for you. And that refers to the map of the Sindh. father, till the very day that he died, he talked about his friend Hisbola. So this message of love and peace, that Sufi tradition embraces and endorses has continued on for a really long time. And the two greatest poets of Sindh, of the last century, Shaikayaz and Narasham, and I want to talk something about them, because they hold the hope. They like to look at things in a more positive way, no matter how bad things are, and we have examples. India and Pakistan went to war in 1965, and Shaikayaz, he opposed the war, and he wrote a poem, and he suffered very VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 11
Loosely translated, it says a chance glance at values as well, and then you deal with them at the the map of Sindh evokes emotions immense, like level that they are comfortable with. It is not going the young bride immersed in gaiety and laughter to be in Urdu, it‟s going to be in Sindhi, but it will she suddenly realizes the desire immense for her be in Punjabi and Balochi and Marati and Bangali lover; and that‟s how he felt about Sindh. So that‟s and so that‟s what I truly believe in. And Sindh is coming form a emotion level, but at an intellectual a shining example; it has amazing history; a great level, at an analytical level, the reason why we track record. It is a province, a state, a country want to engage more with Sindh, and that‟s the that has never invaded any other country. When argument that I would like to make. Both India and we look at the ruins of Mohanjedaro one of the Pakistan are very similar countries, we hear about ancient civilizations in the world, you don‟t find bad things Pakistan, and to a certain extent, that‟s armament there are no signs of that so hopefully also true in India. India‟s a democracy, Pakistan I the people were peaceful. So that „s the message hope would also become a true democracy, but I would like to share with you. My love for Sindh there is a rational why the two countries should emanates from the ability to speak the language, become democratic, and that has to do with the which I feel very comfortable. I had my high fact that they are not both nations in the sense that school education in Sindhi and on a sad note, I we understand them, when we look at the would also like to observe is that although Hindu European model. India is composed of 18, 20 Sindhis who have migrated away from Sindh and states. People are diverse from north to south, have done exceedingly well, they pride they speak different languages; they have different themselves as being jewels of India, are cultures. Not only linguistically they are different; extremely successful in business and ethnically. They do not necessary share the same professional fields, are very rapidly loosing their history. If you look at the state of Marata, the Sindhi roots. Their ability to speak the language is capital of which is Bombay and also happens to be terrible. They don‟t understand Sindhi dialects; my home, it has a mariachi speaking population of they have very little knowledge of Sindhi history, 110 million. Germany has a population of 80 its language and now traditions. And that really million. Bengal has a population of 80 million, hurts me. Its hurts me because I see over 3 Bangladesh has a population of 110 million and it million people who had such a rich history are is a country in its own right. Similarly, Sindhis, I rapidly fading away. So I hope our Sindhis in just learned, I thought there were 35 million, but I Sindh who would create and foster an am happy to know that we are 50 million. So I am environment where we can make Hindu Sindhis not advocating the case for separatism because proud of their heritage. Things that I would like to that does not work and we have seen that; we suggest, not it is possible, to build museums for have seen that in Punjab in India where Sikhs Hindu Sindhis to come back and visit the shrines wanted to have a separate state and they failed. that could be restored. These Hindu Sindhis have And you are specially going to fail if you want a to feel proud of their heritage and that will also democratic union. If you look at Sri Lanka on the happen when Sindh becomes more economically other hand where Tomins wanted to have a viable. Now it is easier said than done, but Hindu separate province or country and they failed too. Sindhis living outside of Sindh are in a position to But when you are a dictatorship like Pakistan had, in my opinion to contribute, come back the way Bangladesh did succeed from the union. So it is in the Chinese did, the overseas Chinese did to the best interest of Pakistan to remain democratic, china and overseas Indians are doing it in India. so I have hope, although things seem bleak. If we The people from Silicon Valley are going back to were to trace the history of Pakistan, we would Bangalore and starting new business. Hindhu see that gradually it would become more and more Sindhis have traditionally been very great democratic for it to survive. Otherwise it would be businessman and have been trading for centuries difficult, and I don‟t think any organization would now. There are records of Sindhis financing czars want to dissolve itself. So the argument I would for example, so I hope that would happen. That‟s make as to why the US government should about all I have to share with you, thank you. engage more with Sindh has to do with the very reason. Cause if you really want to reach out to people, so that we can engage with them in trade, commerce, promotion of culture, promotion of our Page 12 SINDH GUARDIAN
Dr. Gul Agha
Welcome everyone; it’s a pleasure to be here. agencies insisted. He asked that the ISI, which is In the past years, I’ve sort of presented slides of the intelligence agency, he brought under the Sindh and so on. This year I was asked to sort of command of the interior ministry and he was give an extempore presentation about my refused and rejected. They removed the power experiences. I’ve been involved for the last that he had to appoint judges. almost 30 years now for human rights in Sindh So this is sort of the situation in Pakistan. through various organizations and various Only 4 of the 19 high court judges in Sindh are activities. And it’s nice to see it coming to fruition Sindhi. The rest are non -Sindhi speaking. So in SAPAC in increasing awareness. even though there was a government that was We have huge problems, which have only elected after the killing of Benezir Bhutto they increased unfortunately over the last 30 years, felt obliged not to manipulate the elections as rather than gotten better. It seems to be the case much as they did this time. They rendered the since the last 60 years actually, since government toothless and the creation of Pakistan, powerless when they were unfortunately. The situation is “We have huge problems, democratically elected and quite dire. As you know the last which have only increased were putting forward election was severely rational policies . manipulated. Hundreds of secular unfortunately over the Today in fact to see the candidates were attacked and last 30 years…” situation of what government assassinated; there were a large we have the Punjab government note of assassinations particularly in announced as they have been the Pakhtun province, resulting in essentially the doing for the last two years that cause its in the disenfranchisement of a lot of people. And to just hands of the opposition a 61 million rupee grant to give you an idea of what kind of government, so an organization called Jamaat al Dawa. It’s a grant we’ve always had these security agencies, which from the government. Now Jamaat al Dawa is a are really running a shadow government and organization that is band by the United Nations. Its people said “well you have a government that’s head o ce was wanted for the terrorist attacks in the democratic government that was nominated Mumbai. And the government justi es it by saying by Sindhis in the last 5 years.” The reality was “well we band it, the UN band it so we band it.” A that they in fact did not allow that government to reporter showed up just a couple of years ago, function. For example, the president who was two years after the band was announced at the from Sindh said that they ought to have a trade headquarters of this organization who are now treaty with India. And he started negotiations of a getting a grant from the government. And Ha z Saeed trade treaty and wanted to have free trade, which who is a wanted terrorist, goes around making makes perfect sense. speeches quite freely. There was no sign of any If you look at the United States, the largest government o cials from the Pakistan trading partner is Canada, not china. Next in line government. The people said, “no we don’t see is Mexico, almost on par with the Chinese. them, they come and they give us money, and Considering the size of Mexico and the Chinese that’s the only role.” So now this terrorist out t economy, you can kind of see the di erence. And which did not target the Pakistan -Sindhi, which is now you can just imagine, how large a trading now coming in power, they targeted the Awami partner US is for Canada makes perfect sense. national party, the party candidates all the But we got the Mumbai attacks as a result from secular parties. They have been paid for the last the security agencies to kill o any negotiations several years by the government with no on the free trade agreement and block the free supervision no control, just o cially “well we band trade agreement. The president declared that them and their running charities.” there should be no rst strike policy on nuclear What are the charities, well you have these weapons, it should be our state policy. And he madrasasas, the madrasas is a considered was removed from the national Security Council; charities. And the government is o cially giving he was no longer allowed to be on it, the security VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 13
them money as a response to a band from the assassinated. This is the lawyers bar of United Nations; the Security Council declaring association; that they would be expelled from the them as a terrorist out t. Said ok and we take bar of association and so on. The Sindh them over and they’ll be run by the government, assembly was the only one that condemned it. with exactly the same people running these Now a member of the national assembly who won organizations. And then the reporter was hushed Imran Khan’s party has demanded that the away; this was in the Pakistani news paper, and assassins of governor Tasir be released. They then the stories never covered again. If you look at should just be let go because they have killed. the number of journalist killed in Pakistan, it’s not Now what was the crime of governor Tasir? too surprising, it’s of the highest mortality rate for The governor Tasir’s crime was that he met a journalist, even beyond Syria and Afghanistan, as young woman, 13 year old Christian woman, who the most dangerous country, it was on the top of had been accused of blasphemy and was being the list of the PFUJ which is a society to protect tried, which is capital o ense, tried for the death journalists. So these are the conditions under penalty and turned out that she is illiterate and which the country is functioning. she was supposed to have blasphemed by some Congresswoman Maloney mentioned the rights piece of paper that was written in Arabic that was of women, there is a council called for Islamic a piece of the Quran and she didn’t know what it Jurisprudence, which basically give ruling, which was. She was working as a cleaning person in the courts are supposed to obey. Most recently the child labor and the governor went and met her in council gave a ruling saying that DNA evidence prison and was assassinated as a result. could not be used in rape trials, that it could not be But of course there may be fanatics anywhere, primary evidence, you could not build a case not only that he was assassinated, but the around DNA, and of course their reasoning is that assembly of the province refused to issue a it’s not mentioned in the Sharia. Well 1400 years condemnation, refused to issue condolences. ago, it seems that they did not know about DNA Now the elected members of the national evidence. The only assembly which went assembly of the party that will be leading in the immediately, and again will be toothless because Pashtun area where there was a campaign of they have no control over the judges, they have no assassinations against the secular party of Awami control over the courts. The only assembly that national party. Which has a long secular history passed a unanimous resolution condemning it is by the way, they were paci sts in resisting the the Sindh assembly. British. Their leader Gafar Khan was called The sort of people that we have now in Bachakhan, very well respected. Always won the government, there is a party, which was the elections. After the creation of Pakistan, they kept bene ciary of all the assassinations in him in prison and they kept him out of elections. Pakhtunkha, which was Imran Khan’s party Well there was a campaign of assassinations Tahreek Insaaf their members of national and as I mentioned about 700 people were assembly demanded that the assassins of the assassinated including all the candidates so they Punjab governor, so there was a governor Tasir, could not hold a rally, they could not campaign, who was a liberal governor appointed by President they could not do anything at the last election. Zardari to the province of Punjab and he was They have been replaced by Imran Khan’s party assassinated by religious fanatics in the Punjab, who’s being backed by the intelligence agencies, the only assembly that condemned that again was and they are the ones demanding that all charges the Sindh assembly. The Punjab assembly did not be dropped against the assassins of this previous even pass a resolution of condolence. And in fact governor. the decree of fundamentalism of the areas from which the military and the security of practice of So these are the sort of conditions in the Pakistan comes is such that even the lawyers from country and the only island of sanity that’s left is that region said that if anyone defends the murder, in the province of Sindh, which is rural area and the assassins of the governor who did it in broad poverty stricken and so on. But their daylight then that person should be also representatives currently are still electing the Page 14 SINDH GUARDIAN
(Continued from page 13) most liberal candidates who say immediately compromised they might be in many ways they respond by saying no DNA evidence must be represent a culture, that is the most liberal culture considered. Unfortunately they are powerless as in Pakistan that is the most tolerant the most I mentioned. The courts are not controlled by concerned about minority rights concerned about them, they cannot appoint people to the courts the rights of women and we really need to foster and have very little authority. Their resolutions that. So I‟d like to welcome Congressman are often ignored. But they are still at the Sherman. I‟m glad to see you and those were sort forefront and they represent the culture of my brief remarks on Sindh background. I think regardless of how cautious they are or how we can proceed further. Thank you Mr. Shankar Lakhavani
I‟m always pleased to see Congressman Sherman come to our meetings. It‟s always very heartening to see a long serving Congressman support the Sindhi cause. So I really appreciate that, Congressman. I also appreciate the many speakers who spoke and the many friends that are here tonight. If we could speak about some of the pain that the Sindhis have gone through, are going through, the issue of bonded labor of the Hindus in Sindh, of the Muslims in Sindh, the feudalism in Sindh, the lack of political participation, the lack of human rights and so on, but I‟ll not dwell on that. I‟ll dwell on something different. We Sindhis have come a long way. I‟ve been in North America for 40 years. And I have participated and helped several other Sindhi organizations begin and grow, and begin to participate in the American community and American way of life. I‟m very glad that SAPAC is giving a voice to the Sindhis in America. It is our right as well as our responsibility to participate in the political process and that shows the maturity of the community when they start to participate in the political process here in America. I‟m very grateful to Munawar, who has fought for many years, to finally find this place in the political process. I‟m very grateful to him that he has helped initiate this organization. I‟m also grateful to people like Dr. Halepota and some of the others who have consistently supported SAPAC. Many of the other Sindhi organizations basically help the Sindhis participate in some of the family activities, some of the cultural activities; this is different. And what I‟m hoping is that this organization, which is the only one that gives the Sindhi a political voice, will continue for another 40 years. And hopefully not only us, the first generation of Sindhi whose here, who started participating in the political participation, but our children will also participation the political process. And my hope is that your children, my children, our children will come and work as interns. I‟m always so excited to see the interns help this organization grow. We talked about Hanne Bursch. I met Hanne in London in one of the conferences that was organized. And believe me, it seemed like she knew how to organize not only the conference, but more important, Munawar Laghari. Munawar is very emotional, very creative, and he has all this creative force that needs to be channeled and Hanne was able to do that. So we need a solid political foundation for our children to participate and I think SAPAC is the vehicle that will help us do that. But we have to ensure that SAPAC becomes a permanent organization. A couple of years ago we talked and I was lamenting the fact that SAPAC does not have an office, and Munawar and along with other friends, within the matter of a couple of months had an office, they were operating in an office. I was really afraid for Munawar. I was afraid that he might go the Bill Clinton way if he continues to have interns operating from his home. I was very glad to see that he created the office, but here is the thing, but if we want this organization to have a permanent home in Washington D.C., it needs a permanent office. And a couple of weeks ago I was chatting with one of my friends, who shall remain anonymous today, and I was lamenting how come SAPAC does not have a permanent office. How come some of this other organizations who participate in the political process have permanent offices? From the labor unions to some of the other ethnic organizations and so on. This frame of mind presented me with a national public radio type of challenge. You know how the national public radio gives you a challenge? And this is what he said: “I am willing to support the creation of VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Page 15
a permanent home for SAPAC provided for every dollar that I give, somebody else gives two dollars.” And he said I‟m willing to do that to the tune of 100,000 dollars. I thought that was a great challenge. I was not willing to take him up on that because you know I‟m not from Silicon Valley, I‟m from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburg was Silicon Valley about 150 years ago when we used to manufacture steel and we were coal country and at that time that was engine of growth, but not today. So I did not accept this challenge, but I‟m going to throw it out here amongst this august audience and see who is willing to take up this challenge, but the challenge is here. So and I think that we are to support it just like we support the national public radio, just like we support United Bay, etc. You know that recently we had the terrible bombing in Boston, and Americans rose up, and contributed within a matter of several weeks 35 to 50 million dollars. And so I think it can be done. I still remember, I was a member of another Sindhi organization, and every year I would take my family to the annual conference. My family, from the three days that we would spend there, we would have a lot of the cherries and listened to a lot of music and so on and every year drop around 1,500 dollars. But even then there were lots of pleas for collecting funds, and for good causes, buying ambulances back in Sindh and so on. But even those organizations never were able to create a permanent form, a permanent office. So I really think it‟s something we all should consider and if you are interested send an email to SAPAC and if there is sufficient interest, I‟m sure with the help of our interns we will be able to create an organization that will help you channel your hard earned cash into a permanent office for SAPAC. That‟s all I have.
About the speakers
About Congressman Brad Sherman: About Mr. Nathir Lalchandani: Congressman Brad Sherman represents the Mr. Nathir Lalchandani is a humanitarian 30th District of California in the United States and has a received a Masters Degree in House of Representatives. social work, specializing in personnel management and labor welfare and, About Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney: privately practiced as a management Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney represents the consultant. 12th District of New York in the United States House of Representatives. About Dr. Gul Agha: Professor Gul Agha is a computer scientist About Congressman Adam Schiff: and professor of computer science at the Congressman Adam Schiff represents the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 28th District of California in the United States and the author of over 150 publications. House of Representatives. About Mr. Shankar Lakhavani: About Tommy Wells for Mayor: Mr. Shankar Lakhavani is the Director & The Honorable Tommy Wells is a member of the Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt at L6S D.C Council and Chairman for the Committee of Quality Solutions and teaches courses in Public Safety. probability and statistics and Lean Six Sigma at the University of Pittsburgh. About Dr. Shashi Lalvani: Dr. Shashi Lalvani was a former professor at Southern Illinois University for 21 years. He is the founding chair of the chemical engineering and bioengineering majors at Miami University where he serves as the chair of the Chemical and Paper Engineering department since 2003.
SINDHI AMERICAN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Phone: 202-496-5300 The Sindhi American Political Action Committee (SAPAC) is an organization which works to raise E-mail: [email protected] public awareness about issues relating to Sindh and the Sindhi people throughout the world. SAPAC emphasizes the significant link between the Sindh region and US national interests. For this purpose, SAPAC aims to advocate on behalf of the Sindhis and to positively influence American policies toward Sindh.
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The information and views set out in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of SAPAC.