PAA Celebration 
of 23rd of March 2008 in Sydney

Event exclusively covered by Syed Zafar Hussain

Pakistan Association of Australia celebrated Pakistan Day on 23 March 2008 at Grand Westall 2 Lidcombe in a traditional way. Approximately 350 people from Australian Pakistani, Afghani and Indian Community attended the function.

His Excellency Jalil Abbas Jilani High Commissioner Pakistan was the chief guest in the formal dinner. Hon Barbra Perry Minister for Juvenile Justice and Minister for Western Sydney and assisting the Premier on citizenship represented Premier NSW Hon Morris Iemma. Hon David Borger MP for Granville, Hon Julie Ownes Federal Member for Parramatta and Stephan Kriksharian Chairman Community Relation Commission , Azam Mohammad Counsel General Pakistan, Syed Khalid in charge Visa section in Sydney, Nadeem Jaffer Manage PIA were the guests of honours.

The President Ejaz Khan formerly welcomed the chief and distinguished guests and thanked the guests who participated. Ejaz said that Australian Pakistan community is very happy that our beloved country is back onto track of democracy once again after political turmoil. Only stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan would effect allies in the war against terrorism he added. He said the Australian Pakistan community will play its role to strength ties between Pakistan and Australia and extend our hands to help the newly government on any issues it might require assistance.

Chief Guest Mr Jilani addressed the audience and congratulated Australian Pakistani community for their tremendous role to build up good relations between Australia and Pakistan and thanked the community for its assistance to represent Pakistani as the modern and tolerant nation.

Hon Barbra Perry congratulated Australian Pakistan community on Pakistan Day. She observed that the function was attended by various other communities which she said showed the symbol of a good multicultural society. She praised PAA efforts to open their arms and strengthen relations with other communities living side by side in Australia.

Hon David Borger was delighted to be in the function and congratulated the community on this auspicious Pakistan day. Mr Borger was the Mayor Parramatta before elected as a member of NSW Parliament. He attended PAA function for the first time ever. It is worth mentioning that he was the first Mayor of any local council in Sydney who donated $5,000 to Pakistan Earth Quake to PAA few years ago.

Hon Julie Ownes thanked the Pakistani community support in her re-election and congratulated the community on Pakistan day.

Mr Kriksharian chairman CRC was delighted to be the guest in PAA function first time and praised the efforts of PAA to promote peace and harmony in the community and congratulate the community on Pakistan Day.

General Secretary PAA Latif Ch was the MC of the formal part of the function. Mrs Mammon Habib and Farjad Mehmood handled informal parts of the function very well.

Energy Australia has offered scholarships to outstanding Australian Pakistani children who are doing well in year 10, 11 and 12 which guarantee jobs after completion of study in Energy Australia. PAA thanked Energy Australia and a member of coordinate these scholarships for the community but wished to be anonymous.

PAA presented certificates of appreciations to those Australian Pakistanis who has performed outstanding jobs to build our community profile. The certificates were given to Usman Khawaja a tremendous cricketer recently selected to play for NSW Blue's team, Mohammad Akram who plays Hockey for NSW team, Rehan Alavi host of the SBS Urdu Radio services for his efforts to form a national body to represent Australian Pakistani community, Syed Zafar Hussain Shah for his online community newspaper Sada-e-Watan and Zahid Minhas for his community TV programme.

President Ejaz Khan said that the PAA will recognise each year whosoever performed outstanding job to enhance our community profile through their positive and constructive work, outstanding performance in education, outstanding performance in sports and so on to encourage the community particularly youngsters to come forward and prove their talent to prove we are the best.

PAA urges the Australian Pakistanis to be members of the association and participate to improve its activities. PAA announced that membership will be open till 15 April 2008 and provided membership forms to all those who wish to obtain membership. PAA further announced that the election for the Trustees will be held on 30 May 2008, only members can nominate themselves. Duly completed Membership and Nomination Forms along with correct fee should be delivered to General secretary or President in person before expiry date which would be 5pm on 15 April 2008 for membership and 5pm on 25 May 2008 for nomination.

Dinner was served by Mustaq from Himalaya Pakistan and Indian restaurant Five Dock. PAA congratulates Mustaq for tasty dinner and excellent service. Entertainment was provided by the Moonsoon Dance club. Their performance was highly appreciated by the guests.

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On 28 November 2007 Pakistan Association of Australia hosted a splendid dinner in the honour of Ian Carnell Inspector General Intelligence Services and Dr Vivian Thom Acting Ombudsman for Immigration in Parramatta Sydney. Approximately 60 Australian Pakistani professionals, Doctors, Lawyers and Business men form Pakistani background attended this dinner.

Dr Shaukat Javed was the Master of Ceremony. In his opening remarks he introduced PAA by saying that PAA was formed approximately 45 years ago in Australia and Professor Hasshim Durrani was one of the pioneer of the Association. He said this dinner is an attempt to introduce Australian Pakistani Community to the main stream community and the top level of government policy makers.

President Pakistan Association of Australia (PAA) Ejaz Khan in his well come speech said, “Pakistanis living in Australia consider the country as their own homeland and making tremendous contribution towards peace, security and development.” Addressing a dinner at Lighthouse Restaurant, Parramatta on Wednesday, Ejaz Khan said, “Authorities particularly Australian security agencies should not discriminate against Pakistanis on the basis of their religion, race and country of origin and should be treated like all other local communities.” He mentioned that security agencies has threatened , harassed and humiliated in some cases Pakistani community in the past which is not acceptable. The President PAA said that there was some reservations among various sections of Australian Muslim communities with regard their treatment at the hands of Commonwealth security agencies. He said previous Government has deliberately attempted to isolate Australian Muslim Community form the main stream community. He said that official authorities particularly the heads of security agencies should make efforts to address these reservations. “There should be a proper check and balances in place for the security agencies including ASIO to ensure that they do not abuse their power and further alienate the Muslim community,” Ejaz said. Mr. Ejaz expressed the hope that the new political leadership in Canberra would not take the same line which their predecessors took. The new leadership shall try to resolve Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and listen to the Australian Muslim community leadership and address their concerns.

The chief guest Mr Ian Carnell, while addressing the ceremony threw light on the roll of his department. He said, his department played a role of watch dog on the activities of various law and order agencies including ASIO.He also said that his department ensures that law and order agencies complied with relevant laws in full while carrying out their tasks. Mr Carnell said that his department is impartial, independent and not answerable before any Minister. His department also investigate complaints against the law and order agencies and advise appropriate course of actions.

The deputy ombudsman Dr Thom, informed the gathering about the role of their organisation. She said they deal with complaints related to federal agencies. The deputy ombudsman distributed handouts of their organisation and explained to the guests how they could seek address of their complaints through federal ombudsman’s office.

Pakistan Counsel General in Sydney Mr Azam Mohammed also addressed the dinner. He informed the gathering about the steps which Pakistani government was taking to establish a true democratic set up there and appreciate cooperation among the top level bearcats and Australian Pakistani community.

The attendee directed their question to the speakers, most of the complaints were about treatment they received at the airport from various agencies.At the end Dr Akram Hassan delivered the vote of thanks and presented shield to the chief guests. After the formal part of the program the chief guest went to every table to meet with the community personally. Ejaz Khan introduced our community with the chief guest. The dinner ended about 11: 00 pm.

Pakistan Association of Australia will celebrate Pakistan day on Easter Long weekend on Sunday 23rd March 2008 at New Westall Hall , 5 Kerrs Road Lidcombe Sydney.The programme will start at 6:30 pm sharp Inshallah. PAA executives request the public to be there on time. It has been decided to commence the musical programme first at 6:30 pm after recital of holy Quran. Formal speeches will be delivered just before dinner. Music, variety show, fun games, fancy dress show and a quiz show will follow the dinner.

Tickets are: adults $25.00, children under the age of 10 will be free. Students and children over 10 will be charged $15.00. Dinner will be included in the ticket price.

If anyone interested to play a roll in fun games, fancy dress show or the quiz show please contact us as soon as possible after all this is your association. We encourage every one of any age or gender to participate to make this programme colorful, interesting and successful.

Pakistan Association of Australia step ahead serving the community. www.pakistanassociation.com.au

For Further information, Please Contact:
Ejaz Khan- 0401 053 748, Dr. Akram Hassan-0418 869 426, Mehmoona Habib: 0405 460 378

Thanks,
Ejaz Khan
(Principal Solicitor)
Juris Australia Lawyers
2B, Yarrabee Road Northmead NSW 2152
Ph: (02) 9686 9888 Fax:(02) 9686 1777
Email: info@jurisaustralia.com

Last week Chief of the Pakistan’s Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir was on an official visit to Australia. He attended the RAN Sea Power Conference 2008 in the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre Darling Harbour Sydney. This conference has become one of the major naval and maritime events in the world and the Chiefs of many navies from around the world attend this conference. Last session of the conference was on Thursday, 31 January. Before the closing ceremony Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir spoke about the regional security challenges in the Arabian Sea. His speech was appreciated by the Australian & other Naval chiefs.

On the Evening of Thursday, 31 January in the Honour of the Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, the President of the Pakistan Association of Australia Mr. Ejaz Khan arranged a dinner at one leading Italian Restaurant of Sydney. The Dinner was attended by Chief of the Pakistan’s Naval Staff Admiral M.A. Tahir, his Staff members Cdr. Abdul Aleem, Cdr. Sarfaraz Afzal, Cdr. Nadeem Bukhary, Defence Advisor Pakistan’s High Commission Brig. Babar Mansoor Virak, Consul General of Pakistan Mr. Azam Mohammed, Editor-in-Chief of Sada-e-Watan Sydney Syed Zafar Hussain, Dr. Akram Hassan, Comn. (R) Usman Khan, Bashir Malik & Dr. Aman Ullah Khan. (Report by Syed Zafar Hussain)

                          �   ���Brig. Babar Mansoor Virak & Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir       � �Mr. Azam Mohammed & Comn. (R) Usman Khan

                                            �Cdr. Nadeem Bukhary & Dr. Aman Khan                   �Dr. Akram Hassan, Admiral Tahir & Ejaz Khan

                                                   �Bashir Malik  & Cdr. Sarfaraz Afzal                        �Syed Zafar Hussain & Cdr. Nadeem Bukhary

                                          ��Comn. Usman Khan & Cdr. Abdul Aleem                   �Cdr. Sarfaraz Afzal & Brig. Babar Mansoor Virak

                                   �Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir & Syed Zafar Hussain                     �Admiral M. A. Tahir & Ejaz Khan

Pakistan Association of Australia on behalf of the Australian Pakistani community welcomes the decision of the Pakistan Government to reopen visa office in Sydney.

PAA consistently demanded from the Pakistani Government through its means and High Commissioner for Pakistan to reopen visa facility in Sydney since it closed. Although visa service in Canberra was very good and Mr. Tanveer Akhtar Khaskheli Deputy High Commission has managed load of work remarkably well but it was inconvenient for the community settled in Sydney to get their visas from Canberra.

We believe that the Pakistani Consulate office will provide speedy and prompt visa service under the leadership of Azam Mohammed Counsel General and Khalid Mahmood new Counselor for visa section.