‘Be involved’: Elected Officials With South Asian Ties Deliver A Common Message To PACT

By Sumaiya Malik Photo Courtesy PACT)

Elected Texas officials from local and state government have urged the South Asian community members in Austin to show up to voice their concerns to their elected representatives so their reps get to know them and keep the issues in mind when making decisions.

The officials spoke at a community forum organized by the Pakistani American Collaborative of Texas on Feb. 11.

“This is your city; your fingerprints should be everywhere,” said District 9 Council Member Zohaib Qadri, one of the four guests at the forum. Qadri was elected to the Austin City Council in Nov. and is serving his first term.

PACT, a Pakistani American political advocacy group, invited Qadri along with Texas State representatives Salman Bhojani, District 92 from Dallas, and Dr. Suleman Lanani, District 76 from Houston, and Austin Community College Place 4 Board of Trustee Sean Hasan to speak about issues that mattered to them.

All four officials who have ties to their reps at the local and state level are doing.

“Make them accountable; ask them questions,” Dr. Lalani, who represents the Houston area, said. “We have that critical mass to do that.” Dr. Lalani has been in private in the current legislative session on House Bill 1882.

The bill talks about designating certain religious holy days as optional holidays in Texas to also include Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Vaisakhi, Besak, Passover and All Saints Days in addition to already included Rosh Hashana, Yaum Kuipper and Good Friday.

Bhojani is an immigration attorney and a business owner who was born in Pakistan and moved to Texas as a teenager.

He did not become politically active until 2016 when Donald Trump became U.S. president, he said. “I decided to run for city council because I felt Muslims have been on the menu for far too long.” him his own mother struggled with earning a living wage while raising her children.

Bhojani spoke about how he is answerable to his constituents who elected him.

“We just passed the $770 billion and have set aside $40 million for support services, notably child care centers on ACC campuses, so whether you’re taking classes, tutoring, or taking exams, you can drop your children off,” Hasan said.

PACT became more active in the 2020 election cycle and invited candidates to introduce themselves to its followers.

“Our objective is not just political, we also want to engage in civic and social advocacy,” Farooq Hussain, president of PACT board said, “We want Pakistani Americans to be an integral part of the society that we all belong to; we don’t want to be outside.”

Pakistan in some way, encouraged the attendees to read about what medical practice for over 20 years and is working alongside Bhojani

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“I wish this film had been around when I was a teenager; it would have been so helpful for understanding the experiences of Muslim kids I went to school with,” said one of the feedback comments posted by Director Imran J. Khan, on his Instagram.

“A lot more people that get elected, go back to their community and say I’m here to represent you, what can I do for you,” Bhojani said. “I’m doing this for the community, to really get feedback from them and see what I can do better for them and our youth.”

ACC Board of Trustee Sean Hasan, also a guest, shared information about scholarships available for students attending Austin Community College, and plans of expansion in a new dental hygienist program.

He also spoke about resources for childcare for parents attending classes at ACC, a subject dear to

Representatives of Teen PACT, the student chapter of PACT, and Pakistani Student Association from the University of Texas also participated in the discussion.

It is important to see who represents us because we’re the ones who are going to grow up in and be affected by changes in the world that they are creating for us, said Aaniya Khan, a freshman at Dripping Springs high school who attended the forum with her parents.

For more information about PACT events please visit Pakistani American Collaborative of Texas Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ Pakistani.American.Collaborative. of.Texas