APWA UK to continue to work as usual

 

Following is the statement by Mrs Zarina Wajid Hasan, Chairperson of APWA UK issued on the leaflet on the launch of the self-styled THE UK APWA WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION on 5th July describing it as amusing and full of contradictions.

 

In her statement wife of Pakistan’s High Commissioner said that notwithstanding bankruptcy in credibility to represent women of Pakistani origin whose roots are in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, it was gratifying to note the recognition of the contribution made by her as Chairperson of APWA UK and the excellent charity and social welfare work carried on by APWA UK and its committed members that included fund raisers, huge contribution to the afflicted people in Pakistan for Prime Minister’s Special Fund for Victims of terrorism, sending of 55,000 woollen blankets for the needy back home and £ 3000 to local institutions like Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. What annoyed Mrs Sarfaraz and her London protégé was not making APWA UK’s funds available to them to carry out “work-cum-pleasure trips”.

 

However, Mrs Hasan pointed out, the distinctive contradictions stated in the leaflet in the proclaimed intent and hidden objective of  launching the UK APWA Women’s Association now to pitch it against APWA UK that came into being soon after APWA Pakistan’s establishment in 1949 under Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan, the wife of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. And ever since its inception APWA UK has had as its Chairperson spouse of the Pakistan’s High Commissioner as ordained in APWA’s constitution.

 

Without going into the details with regards to the hurriedly drafted document styled as its constitution and the charity that has been set up by a bunch of self-centred ladies. APWA UK puts on record to keep it straight that the organisation floated by Mrs Sarfaraz and her London-based protégé does not have any affiliation with Pakistani women in UK. In fact it has no connection with APWA UK or the Pakistan High Commission. Incidentally APWA UK’s Chairperson has always been spouse of the Pakistan High Commissioner since its establishment. The setting up of a new organisation is a manifestation of most blatant nepotism by a handful of self-centred and eccentric women who have self-interest to promote.

 

The  most severe slap dealt on the face of Pakistani women in UK by the new group to cause dissensions and disunity is reflected in the irony that a country-wide British Pakistani women’s affairs association representing women of the origin of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has as its main patron and godmother in the person of Indian origin whose main cause of popularity among the Indian Diaspora and officialdom has been her most vitriolic attacks on Pakistan and Islam and support to atrocities committed in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. No opportunity is spared by her to target Pakistan on any occasion.

 

While APWA UK have greatest respect for the Indian women who have made enormous contribution for the welfare of the Indian Diaspora, it is definitely insulting for Pakistani women in UK that this self-styled new group could not find support from any of the prominent Muslim women leaders such as the most outstanding Baroness Saeeda Warsi who has made to the top by hard work, commitment to genuine welfare work and general weal of the people—irrespective of caste, creed or colour.

 

The objective of the new organisation obviously is to undermine the role of Pakistani women in UK and to tarnish the image of leaders of Pakistani women’s community by projecting them as not worthy of running their own affairs. By taking as patron a person of Indian origin for setting up of this new organisation is aimed at dividing Pakistani women at the behest of Pakistan’s adversaries who had been feeling the pinch by APWA UK’s enormous contribution in the field of charity and social work both in UK and in Pakistan.  Whatever this new group claims it would do is contrary to the aims and objectives of APWA UK.

 

Secondly, most of those chosen by the group to pull its cart on the questionable course of dividing the community have more of periodic tourist interest in Pakistan rather than service to the Pakistani women’s community. Besides over third of the patrons of this so-called women’s organisation are male which is ironic when this group’s propagated objective is to empower Pakistani women in a country which has a galaxy of Pakistani women occupying and performing leadership roles in various fields of socio-economic endeavours. It is further more worth noting that there are more patrons than trustees and it would be interesting to see how this pan out in UK.

 

The level of male patrons involved in this organisation—intriguingly related to each other in one way or the other-- supposedly meant for empowerment of Pakistani women in UK-- makes its composition ludicrous. It has been simply established to divide the Pakistani women Diaspora for serving the outrageously ambitious and nepotistic interests of individuals with dubious backgrounds (some seeking to sneak into House of Lords  not on merit of service but self-publicity) designed and assigned to stem the rapid rise of Pakistani women in British politics and as leaders in fields of other socio-economic activities being given fast recognition by the British society for the constructive work towards helping strengthening the British society by building bridges of understanding and co-operation among various communalities for peaceful co-existence.

 

The APWA Executive Committee at its meeting held on July 15 at the Pakistan High Commission’s residence chaired by Mrs Hasan decided to convene a meeting of APWA UK members on Sunday the 18th of July at the Pakistan High Commission to review the situation and to chalk out future plan of action for charity and other work.

 

It was also decided to apprise about the factual position to all those who have been hoodwinked by the group of usurpers trying to replace an outstanding organisation with a life time record of service by one that is interested in the promotion of self-interest of few self-centred individuals.

                                           

 

July 15, 2010

 

 

Last updated: 16 July 2010