Faisalabad: Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) expresses deep concern and strong condemnation over the case of Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Christi
COLONIE: December 2, 2008. The region’s Indian community is coming together in Colonie for a memorial service tonight, in a show of solidarity following the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Organizers expect some 50 people to gather for the hour long 7 p.m. service at the Hindu Temple Society of the Capital District, 450 Albany Shaker Road.
One community leader described the event as an opportunity to express condolences and explore ways to help the victims.
“In times and crises like this, getting together and reinforcing our own values is therapy,” said M.A. Waheed of Niskayuna, incoming vice president of the Tri-City India Association.
Waheed, who is Muslim, said the “universal service” will bring together people of different faiths. It is open to the public.
Waheed described the hotels attacked as “prestigious icons” in Mumbai, where he lived before moving to the United States. Waheed, who worked in advertising and marketing, was a frequent guest at the hotels for social and business occasions. The hotels had so much cachet that people would boast of going to them, he said.
Speeches tonight will stress the need to remain united in a country that encompasses different faiths, languages and local cultures.
“We want to maintain our own unity in diversity,” said Waheed, “and converge together for a common cause in condemning this kind of barbaric act.”
Waheed, 60, works for a hospitality franchising company and owns an Indian restaurant in Schenectady with his wife.
A representative of the Pashtun Cultural Institute of Albany condemned the attacks in Mumbai.
“The Indian-Pakistani community deplores indiscriminate violence and destruction of innocent persons and property in our countries (and) supports all the relief efforts planned and to be provided by the U.S. for India,” said Nisar Khan, a native of northwestern Pakistan who lives in East Greenbush and works for a marketing, design and public relations firm in Clifton Park. “This attack is an obvious attempt to prevent these two communities from living in peace.’’
‘‘This tragedy will represent a new beginning of peace and cooperation between the people of India and Pakistan. We condemn the attacks in w, and mourn with the families that have lost dear ones in this violence, and hope and pray that this situation will result in ultimate peace and unity to our counties. We hope that the culprits and the people behind this terror plot will be brought to justice immediately.
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"Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" By Nazir S Bhatti
On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.







