Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

SKOKIE, Ill.

A public seminar was hosted by Muhammad Tauseef Siddiqui of Ay- Zindagi Radio Chicago here at the Holiday Inn, May 20, to show solidarity with and grief for families of the 44 unarmed Ismailis, including women and a child, killed at the bus attack in Safoora Goth, Karachi, Pakistan, May 13. The atrocity was thoroughly condemned as a cowardly act of terrorism by community leaders, members of various political parties, and also by Vice Consul-General of Pakistan in Chicago and master of ceremonies Saman Muneeb. The press release was from Pakistan Times reporter Syed Khalil Ullah.

“We strongly condemn the attack and express deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. We will support efforts to bring all those responsible to justice and stand ready to provide assistance to the investigation,” said Muneed.

The evening began with Qur’an recitation by Chaudhry Riaz and poetic praise (hamd) of God by Amjed Rana. A minute of silence was observed for the victims.

“We are here today to strongly condemn the heinous attack on a bus in Karachi, resulting in the deaths of dozens of members of the Ismaili community. Chicago Pakistanis stand with the Ismaili community,” said Siddiqui. “Only conducting meetings to condemn is not a solution for this tragedy. We need to do practical work, get all resources together,” said Abdul Jabbar Memon, an Ismaili.

“I am from Karachi and know the Ismaili community since I was a child. They are a peaceful community and in many respects the pride of our society,” said Naim Ahmed, member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who is also on the Council of Pakistan American Affairs. “Sir Sultan Mahommed Shah, Aga Khan III, 48th Imam, helped institute Aligarh Muslim University. Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan, made lasting contributions to world politics for the benefit of Muslims. He was a founder and first president of All-India Muslim League. This attack is not on the Ismaili community but on the 20 crore Pakistani people,” he added. “The founder of our nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah belonged to the Ismaili community,” observed Jameel Ahmed Khan, chairman of Pakistan Parade Committee

Other speakers were Arshad Mirza, Ali Akhter (Chairman and Deputy Secretary of PTI North America), Younus Salman (leader of MQM Chicago). Amir Chaudhary (leader of PML Nawaz), Mirza Nusrat Husain (president of PPP Illinois), Shohail Shams (MQM Chicago) and Iqbal Jamsaid. Among the participants from across Chicagoland were Hameed Ullah Khan, Herbert Frances, Asif Saleem, Ejaz Khan, Kamran Siddiqui, Saleem Mukhi, Nasir Shaikh, Zafar Manhia, Shoaib Hassan, Javed Riaz, Athasham Nizami and Jamal Siddiqui.

The closing supplication was performed by Ahmed Kareem Jhangra