#PrayforLahore Candlelight Vigil at Consulate General of Pakistan Manchester

Cowardly terrorist atrocity on Easter Sunday evening of 2016 at a children park Gulshan-e-Iqbal Allama Iqbal Town in Lahore left over 70 children, women and men dead and scores injured.

A candlelight vigil was organised by citizens in the North West of the UK to show solidarity with the victims and mourn the unnecessary loss of life. I was humbled by the number of people from across different religious, ethnic and national backgrounds who attended despite terrible weather conditions. Councillor Paul Murphy OBE Lord Mayor of Manchester, Tony Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner and interim Mayor of Greater Manchester, Rt.Hon. Sajjad Haider Karim MEP and many other representatives joined in a message of common grief and resolve that terrorism will not break us apart as a community.

It was a sobering ceremony conducted by Sajid Qazi Community Welfare Consular,  and Consul General Dr Zahoor Ahmed in Manchester.

Tony Lloyd's words sum up what every speaker at the vigil iterated:

“The Easter terrorist attacks in Lahore were reprehensible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives. We think also of those who have been injured and those who witnessed this terrible attack, many of whom are children.

From Greater Manchester, to Brussels, to Lahore, we are all part of one, great global community.

We share the heartbreak of those who are mourning today, we reach out a hand of friendship and solidarity, and we send a message of hope and strength.

That message is simple – those who seek to divide us through fear and violence will never succeed. Together we are stronger than the terrorists will ever be.”

Aftermath of the explosion in Lahore

Mr Iqbal Siddiqui of Pakistan Community Centre Manchester lighting the candles

Amna Ahmed, a member of civil society in Timperley along with a large number of ladies attended the vigil

Tony Lloyd interim Mayor of Manchester and Police and Crime Commissioner, Consul General Pakistan Dr Zahoor Ahmed, Sajjad Haider Karim MEP<  Counsellor Paul Murphy Lord Mayor of Manchester, Father FalakShair 

Counsellor Naeem-ul-Hassan, ex Lord Mayor of Manchester lighting the candles

Counsellor Paul Murphy Lord Mayor of Manchester and Dr Zahoor Hassan Consul General of Pakistan in Manchester

Counsellor RabNawaz Akbar lighting the candles 

Tony Lloyd Police and Crime Commissioner and interim Mayor of Manchester speaking to the audience

Counsellor Paul Murphy Lord Mayor of Manchester addressing the audience

Sajjad Haider Karim MEP addressing the audience

Attack on Junaid Jamshed - Violence is never the answer

The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Junaid Jamshed might be a misogynistic moron and many of his views abhorrent for liberal feminists and religious fanatics alike, but to direct physical violence at him to show your dislike is stone age attitude - and that is where exactly the land of pure is heading to if the goons at the Islamabad airport are not arrested and prosecuted.

But, when a society, and nation commits Harakiri rule of law is the first thing to evaporate.

Marple Locks - a great place for a family day out

A photo diary of a beautiful walk down the Marple Locks. Sixteen locks raise the canal by 209 feet over the course of about a mile. Right next to Marple Town centre this is a gem of a place for family walks with well maintained paths and picnic spots on the way.

Help Educate Girls in Pakistan - Zarina Shamim Scholarship Program (ZSSP)

A recent report on state of education in Pakistan titled “25 Million Broken Promises” highlights that there are currently 25 million boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 16 who are not in school. Girls make up more than half of all out of school children.

Education is one of the most critical areas of empowerment for women. It is also an area that offers some of the clearest examples of discrimination women suffer. An educated woman has the skills, information and self-confidence that she needs to be a better parent, worker and citizen. Cost of education and poverty are two key reasons among many barriers to girls education.

While the State has failed to provide universal education facilities to all its citizens, private and charitable educational institutions are doing sterling work to fill the gap. One such great example is the Ala-ud-Din Academy Girls High School and the Zarina Shamim Scholarship Programme. I reproduce below an email from Zareen Niazi, Executive Director of the school highlighting the achievements so far and inviting everyone to join in and help.

Dear Family and Friends,

I am writing to request your support and active participation in our Zarina Shamim Scholarship Program (ZSSP) http://www.zsscholarships.org/ to help young women in Pakistan attain higher, as well as professional education. 

Since ZSSP’s inception in 2007, we have grown to successfully fund 81 scholarships for young women to attend college, university and even professional education.  This has been a wonderful journey for me personally, and I have seen first-hand the benefits that education can bring to young women with so much potential.   Yet, while we are making a small difference in our country, the number of young women who cannot afford higher education in Pakistan continues to increase.

 

I am pleased to inform you that our very first two scholarship holders from the first batch of ZSSP have completed their medical degrees.  First young woman is Umm e Rubab, who graduated fromKing Edward Medical College, Lahore and second is Hira Nasser who has graduated from Alama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore.  Both have now started their house jobs. 

Several other scholarship holders have now completed their B.Sc. (Honors) degrees and are working and helping their families financially. 

Currently, we are paying 81 (eighty one) girls for their college, university and professional education.  In addition, there are about 80 students of our school and 15 (fifteen) students of Computer Technology Center are being supported by ZSSP. 

I have seen first-hand that young women have much more meaningful lives once they are empowered financially, physically and emotionally. We believe that ZSSP has the great opportunity to empower many more women to achieve their potential in making a profound difference in their lives and communities.

The Matric result for the year 2014-15 is due at the end of July 2015.  Currently, we are interviewing girls who have been short-listed and recommended by our Scholarship Committee.  Final selection of winners will be made after the Matric result.  There is huge potential and we hope that the number of students, with college education scholarships, will further go up with your generous support. 

We are thankful for your continued support and hope that your contributions will keep flowing.  You can help by:

1. Sponsoring a school student by donating Rs.2500/- (U$ 25/-) per month.  This includes tuition fee, books and stationery expenses.

1. Sponsoring a school student by donating Rs.3000/- (U$ 30/-) per month.  This includes tuition fee, books, stationery and a bag.

1. Sponsoring a school student by donating Rs.3500/- (U$ 35/-) per month.  This includes tuition fee, books, stationery, bag and two uniforms.

1. Sponsoring a girl for college education by donating Rs.6000/- (U$ 60/-) per month or Rs 72,000/- (U$ 720/-) per year.  This includes tuition fee, books and stationery expenses.  

1. Contributing any amount to ZSSF for girls' school, college and / or university education.

1. Creating a scholarship in the name of someone whom you want to recognize and honor.  This will be one time payment as seed money.  The money to start such a scholarship is Rs. 500,000/- (U$ 5000/-)  

• Donating through our website via PayPal and Major Credit Cards.

• Making donations via cross checks - in the name of "ALDA - Zarina Shamim Scholarships Fund"

• Depositing your donations directly in the following accounts: 

• Mailing your donation checks to Ala-ud-Din Academy, 114 Danyal Street, Pakistani Bazaar, Baghbanpura, Lahore, Pakistan; Tel:  +92-42-36848061, +92-42-36841594

Payments can be made by:

Bank Al Habib Ltd., G.T. Road, Baghbanpura, Lahore, Pakistan

Account Name: ALDA - Zarina Shamim Scholarship Fund

Account #:  0047 0081 000355 01 4 

BOP, G.T Road, Baghbanpura, Lahore, Pakistan   

Account Name: Ala-ud-Din Academy - Scholarship Endowment Fund 

Account #: 4294126-0830047: 0060180008

Please visit our website for further information on ALDA and ZSSP; http://alauddinacademy.edu.pk/ & http://www.zsscholarships.org/  

To view photos of Scholarship Function - September 2014, please click the link below; http://www.zsscholarships.org/gallery.php

Please share this information with your friends, family, colleagues and supporters who may want to contribute to this cause.

I look forward to your help, time and financial support. It will make a huge difference!

Best regards,

Zareen Niazi

Executive Director

Ala-ud-Din Academy, Girls' High School

Cell; +92 333 4672177

This is a worthy cause so please join in and contribute as much as you can.

Ethnic cleansing of Doctors in Pakistan - Does the Consulate General Pakistan in Manchester care!

A very organised campaign on murdering medical doctors is being carried out in Karachi Pakistan. Majority of the murdered doctors belong to Shia minority who have been and are a target of ethnic cleansing being carried out by well known religious extremist outfits. There is no evidence that law enforcement agencies in Pakistan are capable of dealing with this menace and provide security to those whose job it is to save lives. Numbers of medical professionals murdered in cold blood now runs in hundreds. Association of Doctors of Pakistani origin in the US produced a list of names of victims of this organised campaign. The list which is up to date as of last summer paints a chilling picture.

Concerned medical professionals and other members of the Pakistani community in the North West have been running an awareness campaign on this issue and launched a petition that was signed by hundreds of concerned citizens of Pakistani origin.

On Sunday February 1, 2015  a group of representatives staged a vigil in front of the Consulate General in Manchester and planned to present the signed petition to the Consul General. Authorities at the Consulate were informed and Greater Manchester Police were at there helpful best to facilitate a peaceful and silent vigil.

Representatives of the community held the vigil in freezing cold temperature with a significant support from passer-byes. It is greatly disappointing that no one from the Consulate General turned up to receive the petition. Couple of Consulate staff were visible inside the building taking photos of the vigil using their smart phone but did not engage with the members of the vigil or came out to receive the petition.

The vigil today was a non-political, non-partisan act by members of civil society who want the government in Pakistan to engage and act. Treatment and response from the Consulate General in Manchester begs the question whether the authorities in Pakistan and their representatives in Manchester care about the on going ethnic cleansing of medical profession in Pakistan and are willing to engage with the civil society.

Lest we forget - we are responsible and we need to act to save Pakistan

Lest we forget: we were given (not forced) money to breed snakes. When the money ran out, we continued to feed and breed the snakes thinking it will only bite whoever we ask it to bite.

Snakes are now a large family living in our house which they think is legitimately theirs and want us to leave or become snakes ourselves. Doesn't help dwelling upon who paid for making these snakes.

We have been doing this for the last three decades. Result is that the snakes have multiplied and mutated - just look at all sorts of mutated snakes trying to find all sorts of poisons (arguments) to support their brethren.

Yes, justice will be hurt, rights will be trampled, innocent will become involved - but when removing a filthy gangrene you sometimes have to cut the healthy organs as well. Sound cruel, but it saves the body.