Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
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Pakistan Association of Australia Arranged a Eid Milan Party in NSW Parliament
House
(Coverage by Syed Zafar Hussain & Shafqat Ali)
Pakistan Association of Australia
celebrated Eid Milan Party in NSW Parliament House on 22nd of October 2008. It
was hosted by Barbara Perry (Minister for Local Government). This is the third
year when Pakistanis & other Muslim communities gathered with NSW state
parliamentarians and with other ethnic communities to celebrate Eid. The
specialty of this year's function was that the whole executive team of PAA
decided to appear in National dress of Shalwaar Qameez.
Programme was started with recitation of Quran & its translation by Sheikh Bilal
Homacy (Islamic Charity Projects Associations). Then Mr. Irfan Bhatti (General
Secretary PAA) talked about PAA role and achievements for Pakistani community in
historical background. Then a young speaker, Zanaib Habib delivered speech on
“What is Eid?” in a beautiful and simple manner focusing on non Muslim audience.
Mr. Ejaz Khan (President PAA) welcomed all the guests and made a demand of
community hall for Pakistani Community living in Sydney.
Later, a guest speaker Mr. Benjamin Gilmore was called upon who directed the
movie Son of Lion; shot in tribal area of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He expressed
his views about current situation in Pakistan tribal areas. After, David Borger
(Minister for Housing and Minister for Western Sydney) commended PAA efforts for
community.
Afterwards Barbara Perry (Minister for Local Government) thanked all attendees
and highly praised PAA executive committee to have this Eid Milan Party
tradition. Mr. Azam Mohammed (Consul General of Pakistan in Sydney) represented
Pakistan High Commission office and amused people with his wise words. Mr. John
Ajaka (Parliamentary Secretary to the shadow Attorney General) joined the party
later and expressed his views and thanked the people.
Before the end of the programme, Trustee of PAA Dr Akram Hassan presented a
shield as remembrance of event to Hon. Barbara Perry for NSW Government. At the
end guests were offered snacks, sweets and drinks with Tea & Coffee.
