<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">The movement for justice DC/Virginia/ Maryland chapter sponsored an exchange of views and discussion on "POLITICAL & JUDICIAL CHAOS IN PAKISTAN" on May 22nd 2008. The event attracted audience from all segments of society, including Pakistani Americans, staffers from The Hill, reporters and local Americans. <span> </span><span> </span>The acting Ambassador for Pakistan Mr. Aslam Khan also attended the event.</font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">The speakers included:</font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Mr. Jim Moody , the Democrat Senator <span> </span>from Wisconsin who needs no introduction. He has been recently to Pakistan for election monitoring. </font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Mr. T. Kumar, Advocacy Director Amnesty International , a staunch advocate of human rights and a leading luminary in highlighting instances of "prisoners of conscience" . </font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri"><strong>Dr. Arif Alvi,</strong> Secretary General <span> </span>Movement for Justice (Tehreek-I-Insaf), a dentist by profession Dr. Alvi evidently illustrates the intellectual side of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf. </font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri"><strong>Mrs. Fauzia Kasuri</strong>,<span>  </span>President Womens wing Pakistan Tehreek ???I-Insaf , a known figure in human rights circle and an ebullient and enthusiastic<span>  </span>fundraiser for Shaukat Khanum.</font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Mr. Shahzad Chaudhary, President Pakistan Muslim League (N) USA representing the coalition party who has taken an ethical stand on the judicial crisis.</font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Mr. Moody highlighted the overall fairness of election, the clear verdict given by the people and his experience of the hospitality of Pakistani people. He quoted facts and figures of election monitoring to highlight that on the most parts election were fair. He agreed that there were certainly a number of sympathizer of" boycott of election" even in the people who voted. </font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Mr. Kumar stressed the non-political face of the discussion and very eloquently quantified the importance of independent judiciary as infinite for the development of Pakistan and appealed for all the people battling for restoration of judiciary not to give up their struggle. </font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Ms Kasuri outlined the events in Pakistan and built on the essential importance of all people to keep up their struggle. </font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">Mr. Shahzad highlighted the ethical stance taken by his leader Mr. Nawaz Sharif about the restoration of judiciary and outlined the main difference of opinion between his party and the major coalition partner Pakistan People Party.</font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri"><strong>Mr. Alvi </strong>presented an intellectual discourse on the crisis. He time-lined the role of judiciary in society , culminating to the peak of defiance shown by Iftikhar Chaudhary and than focused on the fact that its not an evolution but rather a revolution. <span> </span>He commented that it will be difficult for the phenomena to continue if the mega-factor of Iftikhar Chaudhary is taken away from it. He said that the minus one theory propagated by a section as unworkable. Mr. Alvi said he has not lost hope , he still harbors the dream that now aware and media saturated people of Pakistan will keep the dream going. He proclaimed " there is a light at the end of the tunnel". <span> </span></font></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">The audience showed huge appreciation for the high level<span>  </span>of thought exchange. <span> </span>The questions were incisive , related to the topic and displayed the awareness and care level. One of the questions were about the selected rigging in Karachi by MQM and the fact that it has been recognized by the European Union. One of the participants pointed out that Balochistan boycotted the election and this fact can be verified by the comical outcome of PML Q winning the election there. <span> </span>Answering a question that what can the immigrants do to move Pakistan towards democracy and for the restoration of judiciary it was laid out that they have already been doing and achieving a lot, it was underlined that the support , awareness campaign , counter advocacy on the hill was the focal point on which fair elections became possible.</font></p> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><font face="Calibri">It was a very impressive ev</font><font face="Calibri">ent arranged by the Eastern coast Chapters of the Pakistan Movement for Justice. <span> </span>Ms. Narjis Ali was, as always the beacon of light showing the way and her team of workers including Dr. Hamid Jalal, Nadeem Malik, Rubeel Iqbal, Kulsum Syed, Farah Aleem, <font face="Arial">Saad Iqbal</font><span> </span>and <span> </span>Fahim Javaid worked as a team to put a together this meaningful evening.</font></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"> <p><em><font face="Calibri"><strong>Ayaz Khan</strong><span><strong>  </strong></span></font></em></p> <p><font face="Calibri"><em><strong>Pictures: http://www.insaf.pk/Media/Pictures/tabid/106/AlbumID/560-118/Default.aspx</strong></em></font></p> </div>