Dallas: solidarity expressed for Malala

DALLAS: Three different events for standing up for Malala Yousafzai were held in Dallas, which were separately organized by Fun Asia Entertainment, Karkuram Thinker Forum USA and All Pakistan Muslim League Dallas (APML) to express solidarity with Malala Yousufzai.

While the main gathering was held in Fun Asia Richardson where a large number of peoples gathered, holding pictures of Malala in their hands and chanting slogans in her support.

Schoolgirls paid tribute to Malala and people in the gathering jointly prayed for recovery of Malala, Kainat and Shazia. Peoples from different walk of life, countries and religions stood up in solidarity with Malala at FunAsia Center Richardson.

Fun Asia event was organized by John Hamid, Shariq Hamid. MC of the event Shabnam Modgil opened the event followed by an array of speakers including, Shariq Hamid, Tina Sharma, Dr. Mona Kazim Shah, Ghulam Jangda, Dr. Ayyub, Mike Gouse, Rashid Dara and others.

The speakers said Malala has become a catalyst for a change that Pakistan was looking for decades; her suffering will bring a new beginning, new morning and a new determination to the Pakistan.

They said support for Malala is increasing by the day. The candle light vigil is not only observed in Pakistan, but throughout the world, including India, Canada here in United States and all over the world.

They also said this is that moment to restore trust and safety for every Pakistani, and hope it can be built where no Pakistani has to live in fear of the others.

Speaker said the solution does not lie in matching their extremism with our in-tolerance towards them, there is no end to that, what we need to find is a way to have a dialogue with them. Also an other event also were organized by All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Dallas at Subzi Madi, Children, women and men joined in this evening for support of Malala, to stand up for what Malala stood; education.

The program appropriately commenced with the famous poem of Dr. Allama Iqbal - A child's prayer, one of the most beautiful poems was sung by local poet Zohra Chisti, and all joined the chorus. "Lab pe aati hai dua ban kay tamana meri Zindagi sham'a key surat ho Khudaya meri"

MissRoha, Esha, Shahina and Maha were among the teenage girls who spoke, they had a message to Malala to get well and continue with her commitment to the education.

APML Dallas leader Dr. Tasnim Agha, Javeed, Mike Ghous, Muhammad Sulman and others spoke eloquently about the need for education and support. Well known Pakistani Mr Muhammad Suleman led a short prayer and blessing.

They said this event will sends a message to the extremists that the world is not with them.

One more Prayer events was also organized by Karkuram Thinker form USA, they pay tribute to the little girl for her bravery. This gathering also expressed support for Malala, Shazia and Kainat, two other girls shot at Swat. KT Forum resident Siraj Butt who is originally from Swat said the extremist was intolerant and did not believe in education for women and shot the girl because she dared to go to school.

He said a woman should never be deprived of education, it should be a crime if any one discourages. Local Taliban makes it difficult and prevents girls from getting an education.

On the other side, DFW area Mosque Imam and Islamic scholars also condemned the attack on the Pakistani child activist who is now fighting for her life in London.

Masque Imams said that the attack was brought a conspiracy against the Islam this is not Islamic education.

Large numbers of Pakistanis who are living in DFW area also joined the prayer at the mosque. Political parties, religious scholars, lawyers, schoolchildren, civil society activists and non-governmental organizations also observed prayer in the Mosque at DFW area in Texas USA.