On Feb. 27, speaking before a crowd of more than 400 Pakistani community members, three prominent U.S. Senators said that the only way to counter the Bush Administration’s policies of ethnic and racial profiling was to send President Bush back home to Texas. It was the first time in the history of Pakistani community in New York City that three senators had visited together. Well-known Pakistani community leaders and activists, along with Pakistanis from all walks of life attended the meeting.
Senators Jon Corzine, Charles Schumer and Tom Harkin emphasized that the Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, needs to win the election and the Democratic Party needs to become the majority party in the U.S. Senate. In order to do so, the Democratic Party asked for the full support of the Pakistani-American community.
Prominent members of the community, Shafquat Tanveer, Dr. Salman Zafar and Shahid Ahmad Khan, organized the meeting at the request of the Democratic Party’s Senate election campaign committee. At the gathering, the committee’s chairman, Sen. Corzine, presented plaques in recognition for their services to the Democratic Party to Sarwar Chaudhary, Shafquat Chaudhary, Malik Iqbal, Nasimur Rehman, Kashif Zafar, Umar Amanat and Shafquat Tanveer.
The senators praised Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism and stressed the need for more economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States to stabilize and strengthen Pakistan’s economy and ensure a solution to its problems. The senators also lauded President Musharraf and his push for an immediate settlement of the Kashmir issue to bring permanent peace to the area and kick off an era of development and prosperity in the South Asian region. The Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, they said, by holding a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations and with the withdrawal of all military forces from the valley.
In his speech, Sen. Corzine thanked Pakistan for its role in the war against terrorism. “We understand that the people of Pakistan have also been affected by this war. We want to make it clear that it is not war against Islam. Rather a front has been opened against those who do not believe in the rule of law and civilized behavior,” he said. “We know that the assassination attempts on President Musharraf had links with his stance on the war against terrorism. However, he deserves full praise for his courage and for continuing to stay the course despite such difficult circumstances. The settlement of the Kashmir issue is a must for South Asia, and in this regard, we want to play the role of an honest broker.”
Reflecting on post-9/11, Sen. Corzine said the United States preferred security to liberty. “We passed the PATRIOT Act with good intentions after the attacks, but close to 700 people were put in jail in New Jersey – my state – just because of their ethnicity and color. These people too have their rights,” he said. “But if people elect us to power, we will review this Act. We would ensure that justice be done to all those individuals whose rights were violated. All actions based on ethnicity and color must stop.”
Corzine said the Democratic Party needs broad support, including the Pakistani community, to achieve these objectives.
Corzine also commented that U.S. immigration policy should work to unite families. “America is an open society and we have to ensure that it remains so,” he said. According to him, the popularity of the Democratic Party has increased with each passing day. If the election were held tomorrow, he was confident the Democrats would win.
Referring to Pakistan’s founder, Sen. Harkin said that Pakistan had to realize Quad-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s dream, but this could be done only if the country developed further and its people were educated. “I would play my role in realizing this dream,” he said. “What happened with the Muslim community after the Sept. 11 was not good. The PATRIOT Act was used as a weapon to target particular communities. If law enforcement agencies misuse the law, it should be immediately exposed.” Harkin also had high hopes for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Praising the role of President Musharraf, Senator Harkin said he has done his job diligently and now needs our help and support. Harkin commented that the Bush Administration discovered Pakistan was a good friend, all of a sudden, after the Sept. 11 attacks. “The good thing is that at least they have recognized Pakistan as a friend,” he added. “Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan’s decision to visit Washington D.C. instead of Moscow proved that Pakistan is a good and reliable friend of the United States. Now it’s the duty of the United States to play a role to support the well being of its great friend and its people. This country talks of democracy and democratic traditions. This principle should be applicable everywhere.” Harkin promised the Pakistani community to work for the establishment of Asia’s best educational system in Pakistan.
Harkin mentioned the Democratic Party’s struggle in the U.S. Senate against discrimination on the basis of color and ethnicity and the misuse of PATRIOT Act. “For this, we need political, moral, and monetary support, and especially the Pakistani community’s votes in the next presidential election.”
In his address, Sen. Schumer said: “I understand that the Pakistani community is working hard to secure its future in America. I am also aware of the problems confronted by the community in the post-9/11 era.” For him, the level of patriotism of the Pakistani-American community could be gauged from the fact they are hardworking people who believe in true democratic ideals.
