Historic Pakistan Independence Day Event in Sacramento
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Sacramento: The capital city region of California is home to one of the oldest communities of people of Pakistani origin in the United States.
Immigrants from Punjab and the NWFP (known as KPK today) then in British India came and settled in California around the first decade of the 1900’s with some families living here going back 4 or 5 generations. With that background, when the Pakistani American Association of Sacramento (PAAS) held its first ever hoisting of the Pakistani flag at the footsteps of the California State Capitol building on Pakistan’s Independence Day (August, 14, 2018) it was significant to say the least.
It was not only a befitting response to our community history but one can hope that the newest generation of “American Pakistanis” is able to carry it forward into the years to come.
The morning started off with emcee Sohail Shahzad inviting Imam Kashif Ahmad of the local SALAM Islamic Center to deliver the invocation. Imam Kashif after his Qur’anic recitation also took the opportunity to remind everyone of the reason for the country (Pakistan) coming into being and the sacrifices that a generation had made for it. He also added that we need to appreciate our adopted country (USA) for our success.
Shahid Saleemi of PAAS took the opportunity to officially thank everyone for attending this unique first-time event. Next the American Star Spangled Banner was played to signify the importance of this country to all of us. With the Stars and Stripes already flying, the hoisting of the Pakistani flag was carried out by Pakistan’s Consul General in Los Angeles Abdul Jabbar Memon as the Pakistani national anthem was aired.
Official messages from the Pakistani President and Prime Minister were delivered by Deputy Consul Shoaib Sarwar and Consul General Abdul Jabbar Memon respectively. And next, some more icing on the cake (as they say) were the inspiring vocal deliveries by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, community leader Durriya Syed and CAIR- Sacramento Executive Director Basim Elkarra. Dave also presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Pakistani American Association of Sacramento.
To conclude, it was indeed a historic day for Pakistani-Americans in Sacramento when the Green and White flag of Pakistan was hoisted for the first time ever at the California State Capitol where it flew proudly along with the Stars and Stripes. A very “Happy Independence Day” greeting to all our readers. Azadi Mubarak.
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