MQM USA’s 2nd Semi-Annual Convention Report

MQM USA’s 2nd Semi-Annual Convention Marks Another Milestone for the Movement

Quaid-e-Tehrik’s Thought Provoking Speech Touches the Hearts of the Philadelphians

Three Consecutive days of Education, Music, Seminars, Speeches and Sports Concluded

Member Rabita Committee Tariq Mir, MNA Shamim Siddiqui and many others Attended

A Whole New Setup Announced for Twelve Units of the MQM USA, NJ Unit Dissolved

Salim Sheikh of DC & Khursheed Khan of NY units given “Workers of the Year” Award

Next Annual Convention will be held in Houston & the Next Semi-Annual in Tampa, FL

Quaid-e-Tehrik’s Adopt-a-Family Program Launched in USA, Thirty Families Adopted

APMSO, American-Pakistanis Muttahida Students Organization’s Launching Announced

MQM USA Congratulates Philadelphia Unit for Successful Arrangements of Convention
(04/19/2004)

Philadelphia, PA: MQM USA’s 2nd semi-annual convention has successfully concluded in the historic city of Philadelphia. Over a hundred delegates from 15 cities of USA have specially come to Philadelphia to attend this convention whereas over two hundred participants were present from the Philadelphia city and the surrounding areas. Convention commenced on Friday April 16, 2004 and ended on Sunday April 18, 2004. MQM’s member national assembly of Pakistan Mr. Shamim Siddiqui, MQM’s member of the Central Coordination Committee Mr. Tariq Mir, Incharge Khidmat-e-Khalq Committee Pakistan Mr. Ahsan Ullah Khan and many others specially come from overseas to witness this yet another historic event in the history of MQM USA.

Delegates from all over the United States started arriving at the Atlantic City, Philadelphia and NJ airports on Thursday where the representatives of the MQM Philadelphia units were present to receive them and to take them to a local hotel where their stay was arranged. By Friday afternoon almost all units had arrived at the convention venue. Member Rabita Committee of MQM Mr. Tariq Mir, in a big round of applause and organizational songs, announced the official commencement of the 2nd semi-annual convention. This was followed by a registration of the participants, a social hour and a dinner hosted by MQM North America’s caretaker Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Later in the evening the members of the youth wing of New York and Philadelphia units amused the participants with the music, comedy items etc. A photo session was also held with the MQM officials and the delegates.

Second day started with the assembly of all the participants in the meeting room where the central organizer and the members of the MQM United States central organizing committee and the guests from Pakistan and UK were also present. Day started with the recitation of Quran by Ansar Ahmed of NY unit. In the opening session, Mahfooz Hydary, incharge and Arshad Hussain, joint incharge of Philadelphia unit welcomed the participants whereas central organizer Ibad Ur Rehman invited participating units to present their six-monthly progress reports. Unit representatives from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Saint Louis, Los Angeles, Tampa, Miami, Dallas, Houston and Washington Dc units presented their detailed reports to the central organizing committee. Members of the penal had also asked questions during the report presentation. This first session ended for lunch at 1:30 PM.

Second session of the day started with the opening remarks of the central organizing committee member Imran Hussain who invited Muhammad Younus and Imadur Rehman to deliver educational seminars on the topics “Integration into the local political system in USA” and “Minority Owned Business & Financing Programs of U.S Government”.

Third session of the day started after a tea break. In this session the members of MQM USA’s central Organizing Committee Shamim Siddiqui, Ajaz Siddiqui, Imran Hussain and Farhat Khan presented their progress reports and also given a overview of the future organizational programs to be held in USA in the next six months. Each member of the central organizing committee announced the names of the new committees of their respective units in the united Sates.

Fourth session started with a speech by Ahsanullah Kahn, incharge KKF Pakistan. He had given a thorough overview of KKF’s services in Pakistan. He also acknowledged MQM USA’s contributions each year in Zakat, Fitra and Qurbani. He was very pleased to announce the names of the thirty donors who adopted a shaheed’s family in Pakistan on the call of Quaid-e-Tehrik Altaf Hussain. He congratulated MQM USA for being the first one in the world to start this campaign.

Haq Parast Member National Assembly of Pakistan Mr. Shamim Siddiqui praised MQM USA for its highly organized efforts in disseminating Quaid’s philosophy in all four corners of the United States. He also highlighted the circumstances in which MQM had substituted its three MNA’s, and planning for the by-elections on those seats. MNA Siddiqui also apprised the participants on MQM’s position on National Security Council Bill. He said it only became possible due to MQM’s proposed amendment in the bill whereby NSC is now bound to take an approval of the national assembly on all the decisions made by the NSC.

The Fifth session of the day started with a presentation by Ibad Ur Rehman, the Central Organizer of MQM USA. He thanked the members of the central organizing committee for their never tiring efforts in organizing and managing MQM’s structure throughout the U.S. He also welcomed the guests from overseas, congratulated the newly announced setup of MQM USA, thanked the retiring members and reviewed their performances. He also announced dissolution of New Jersey unit, concluding that the NJ unit failed to fulfill the minimum acceptable criteria as set by MQM USA. He also revoked their “Co-host of semi-annual convention” status. He instructed the central organizing committee members to form a whole new setup in NJ.

Mr. Tariq Mir, member Rabita Committee MQM congratulated MQM USA for organizing this event and thanked them for inviting him over. He said he was impressed with the level of work in USA especially on both American and Pakistani political fronts. He congratulated MQM USA’s officials for inculcating its members in American political system. He said that MQM USA is now more effective then ever in the local politics by setting examples such as the victories of Masroor J. Khan in Houston and other American candidates in Washington, Philadelphia, Chicago etc. He promised the participants to convey to Quaid-e-Tehrik of MQM USA’s invitation to visit USA. He also said that the performance of the MQM USA’s various units is simply impressive and they must continue their struggle as Quaid-e-Tehrik Altaf bhai counts a lot on them.

In the end of this session, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui presented the “Workers of the Year” award to Khursheed Khan of New York unit and Saleem Sheikh of Washington DC unit. He congratulated them for their performances in the past year and asked others to follow their footsteps in serving the Quaid and the cause.

Final session of the day started at 7:15 Pm in the grand hall of the hotel where hundreds of participants were present to hear the live telephonic speech of Quaid-e-Tehrik Altaf Hussain. There was a non stop rounds of applause and slogan rasings from the crowd when they heard “Hello & Assalam o Alaikum” from their beloved Quaid. Quaid-e-Tehrik’s thought provoking speech went on for over hour and a half.

After the dinner break, local unit had arranged an “Evening of Ghazals, songs and laughter” where famous artists like Bela, Iqbal Qasim and Salhuddin have performed until 3’0 AM. During this program a break was given for award presentation. These awards were given by the Philadelphia units to the MQM officials from USA, Pakistan and UK. Souvenirs were also given to each participating unit. The day ended with an announcement by the central organizer Ibad Ur Rehman that the next annual convention will be held in August 2004 in Houston, TX whereas the next semi-annual convention will be held in March 2005 in Tampa, FL.

The third and the final day started with the concluding remarks by the central organizing committee of MQM USA. They thanked all units for their participation in this convention and for their upward progress in the organizational activities in USA. MQM USA wholeheartedly congratulated Mahfooz Hydari the incharge, Arshad Hussain, joint incharge and their committee members for their efforts in organizing this successful convention.

At 10:AM, all participants were taken to a local park where MQM USA’s Sports & Recreation wing had arranged a cricket tournament and a barbeque for the participating units. Workers and the officials of MQM USA enjoyed this tournament the whole day. New York unit won the tournament whereas the rest of the USA stood runner up. Irfan Jan of New unit committee was given with the man of the tournament award for his two brilliant innings. He smashed several sixes to the central organizer Ibad ur Rehman and Caretaker of MQM North America Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Finally, he was caught and bold by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Barbeque was absolutely a hit. Members of the youth and women wings made remarkable arrangements and provided extremely tasty charbroiled chicken, beef and burgers. MNA Shamim Siddiqui was the chief guest in the prize distribution ceremony. He thanked local unit and especially its women and youth wings for arranging barbeque. He also thanked MQM USA’s sports and recreation wing for arranging the cricket tournament. Cricket tournament and the barbecue was sponsored by DC based, Interflow travel agency.