www.jang-group.com/thenews/feb2003-daily/ 03-02-2003/main/update.shtml

Expatriate Pakistanis appreciate AOPP for developing web page on INS laws 
(Updated at 1240 PST)
New Jersey: Pakistanis all over the United States have appreciated the role played by Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP) in the current ongoing issue of INS Special Registration. 

According to e-press release, AOPP has developed a comprehensive website www.aopp.org , providing up-to- date information about events, news and useful links for the INS. AOPP has also provided sample cases of Pakistani’s who have so far registered. 

Founder and Chairman of AOPP, Syed Asif Alam said, “we have received numerous letters of appreciation for providing information regarding INS laws on our web page and added that we have also setup a pre-registration process where AOPP volunteer calls the registrant on the day of his interview with the INS to make sure that he arrived home safely.” 

Alam further said, “the INS issue has brought lot of Pakistani groups together.” However, Asif Alam commended the role played by PANA, PADF, PACT, ICNA and NCPA in helping out our Pakistani brothers. 

He recalled for the notice of expatriate Pakistanis that last date of registration for the INS is on Feb 21st, 2003. 

July 1st, 2003

http://www.jang-group.com/thenews/jan2003-daily/07-01-2003/main/update.shtml#11

INS Law undermines Pakistan role in US-led anti-terrorism war, AOPP
(Updated at 1115 PST)
NEW YORK: Executive Board of Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP) in a join statement said registration process under, which certain categories of Pakistani nationals would have to register with the INS from January 13th to February 21st, 2003, clearly undermines the role played by Pakistan in the war against terrorism.

It also negates the hard work and dedication of the entire Pakistani Americans. Expatriate Pakistanis in the United States request President Pervez Musharraf to take immediate action and call upon President George Bush to withdraw the recent law which requires Pakistanis to register and provide fingerprints to the INS.

The AOPP has also developed a website www.aopp.org where it is encouraging the expatriate community to send letters to the Attorney General and President of the United States.

July 19th , 2003

The Daily Times (Pakistan), July 19, 2003

Indian peace activists speak at Pakistani convention
Staff Report
WASHINGTON: For the first time in its history, the Association of
Pakistani Physicians of North America (AAPNA) which met in Florida,
earlier this month, invited two Indian peace activists to address one
of the sessions.
The invitees were Dr Amit Shah and Gautam Desai, both
Indian-Americans. Dr Shah is a member of the governing body of
American Association of Physicians of Indian descent (AAPI) while
Desai is co-founder and president of Develop-in-Peace (DIP), a
non-profit organisation, which is dedicated to promoting peace in
South Asia. He is also linked to the Association for India's
Development (AID).
Another invitee to the conference was Dr Pervaiz Hoodboy of the
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, who spoke on the issue of nuclear
proliferation in the subcontinent. He also showed a 35-minute
documentary called 'South Asia under the nuclear shadow.' The
screening was followed by a question and answer session. The message
of the documentary and the gist of the subsequent discussion was that
a nuclear holocaust in South Asia was a "real possibility" and that
the people of the region needed to work for a durable peace.
According to the Syed Asif Alam, head of the Association of Pakistani
Professionals, "Our Indian colleagues noted the influence of almost
50,000 physicians of South East Asia and argued for a proactive
stance from the community toward peace and prosperity in South Asia.
Issues pertaining to interracial and ethnic issues in India, with a
particular reference to the sectarian violence in Gujarat, India,
were also discussed. Deliberations at the meeting culminated in the
creation of a group called the Action-group of Physicians of South
Asia (APSA). It was decided that the initial focus of the group will
be on promoting exchange of intellectuals and activists between
India, Pakistan and America.
APSA will take up a series of activities, starting with the screening
of the documentary "South Asia under the nuclear shadow" for its
members and the public."

Sept 11th , 2003

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/sep2003-daily/11-09-2003/national/n3.htm

AOPP remembers tragic incident of Sept 11

By Azim M Mian

NEW JERSEY: Pakistani-Americans will join the mainstream America to remember those who were victims of terrorist acts of 9/11 when World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked.

The Association of Pakistani Professionals — a US-based organization of young Pakistanis engaged in various professions — has urged all Pakistanis to observe one minute’s silence on September 11 at 8:46 am EST when the first plane struck the World Trade Center two years ago, and a second minute of silence on the same day at 9:03 am - the time of the second impact on Twin Towers.

The motive of this appeal is "to join the City of New York in remembering the tragedy and horror that was unleashed on this day in New York and Washington by forces of hatred and primitiveness," according to a press release of OPP.

Dr Moeed Pirzada, Chairman, Editorial Board of AOPP, said, "I take this opportunity to reaffirm our belief in our ability to construct a better world free of the hatred and prejudice that has been on the rise worldwide since then. We will continue to struggle to increase awareness of the issues that arise in the wake of ignorance, bigotry and prejudice in this country and worldwide."

President of AOPP, Syed Asif Alam, said, "It is vital to make the world know that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism itself," and asked the Pakistani community around the world to join hands and "fight the ambience of negativity about Pakistan and Pakistani’s".

This group of Pakistani professionals is fully acclimatized with the social and political environment of the contemporary US and has been making efforts to interact with scholars and policy makers of mainstream America.

Oct 11th , 2003

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2003-daily/11-10-2003/world/w9.htm

Nabeel’s coffin dispatched to Pakistan from New Jersey

NEW JERSEY: Having been brutally murdered when struck in his head with a baseball bat, Pakistani born Nabeel Siddique’s coffin was sent to Pakistan on October 8, said a report quoting Asif Alam, President of Association of Pakistani Professionals

Hardly two days passed after his mother came from Pakistan to see her deceased son Nabeel, 24, she had to take the coffin of his only apple-pie son back to the country.

Nabeel -a fresh computer Science graduate of NJIT - died Oct 6 at the University of Medicine and Dentistry hospital in New Jersey where he was undergoing medical treatment.

Nabeel was attacked on Haxtun Avenue in Orange, NJ, where he was gone to deliver a pizza to a customer, who ordered for a pizza. The resident who ordered for pizza was not home at the cited address at the time of the attack, according to initial police reports.

Nabeel suffered brutal neurological injuries and trauma, which caused him severe damage to different very sensitive parts of his brain.

Friends and Family of Nabeel arranged Namaz-e-Janaza at Teaneck Mosque on October 7th and was deeply touched by the outpouring support and attendance despite a very short notice. It was a somber and surreal environment. A regular at the Teaneck Mosque said, "Personally, I have not seen such a significant gathering for janaazah prayers at the mosque in almost 10 years."

The Consul General of Pakistan in New York, Haroon Shaukat visited and condoled the mother of Nabeel and assured the support of Government of Pakistan in making sure that justice is served.

"We are thankful for the support and help of Embassy of Pakistan in Washington and The Consulate General in New York in felicitating the process of sending the

body of our dear friend on the VVIP flight of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali," said, Syed Asif Alam, President, Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP).

The police reports suggested that ruthlessly beaten Nabeel was conscious when an emergency medical service crew arrived at the spot, who apprised the police that the inhumane assailants had struck him in the head with a base ball bat, and then managed to drive off in his 1995 silver Nissan. The vehicle was recovered later on Hamilton Avenue in South Orange. His wallet containing credit cards, US$ 30 and his NJIT I D card were also found.

The alleged juvenile defendants were initially charged with aggravated assault, robbery, weapons offenses, car snatching and conspiracies. However, when the victim expired, these defendants were also charged with felony murder.

Acting Prosecutor Dow told a Notice of Motion requesting transfer of the juveniles and their charges to Superior Court was scheduled for October 8th, 2003.

Dec 24th , 2003

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2003-daily/24-12-2003/main/update.shtml#29

Expatriate Pakistanis hail govt, MMA agreement on LFO
(Updated at 1950 PST)
New Jersey: Association of Pakistani Professionals has welcomed agreement on Legal Framework Order (LFO) reached by the government and Mutheda Majlis-e-Amal on LFO, said a report. 

Syed Asif Alam, President of AOPP said, “We hope that the legislature will now focus on the main issue of education and poverty alleviation and take the country on path of development.” 

Commenting on the recent outburst of the Pakistan-Iran issue in the western press, Mr. Alam said, “Pakistan Iran Nuclear issue is over hilighted with a set agenda by certain lobbyists to malign Pakistan’s image and its people. 

Articles and editorials produced so far totally ignore the fact that Russia is the main supplier of Nuclear Hardware to Iran and as reported by Hindustan Times in Oct 2003, .S.R Prasad, a former chairman and managing director of the Nuclear Corporation of India, took up an assignment in Iran after his retirement in July 2000. All what is talked about are involvement of Pakistani scientists.” 

He urged the Pakistanis around the world to write and voice their opinion about the false propaganda against Pakistan and Pakistani’s. 

Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP) is a USA based think tank that strives to educate the western media and government about issues pertaining to Pakistan. 

Dec 26th , 2003

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2003-daily/26-12-2003/main/update.shtml#55