News
OUPakSoc on tackling extremism on CBS News and BBC
The Oxford University Pakistan Society invited Maajid Nawaz, head of the Quilliam Foundation to deliver a talk about tackling extremism in Pakistan and around the world. The event was covered in the hit CBS program "60 Minutes" and can be watched online at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6430977n
The society also invited rock-star Salman Ahmad (Junoon) to deliver a talk about his new book "Rock & Roll Jihad" in which he mentions how he believes extremism in Pakistan should be tackled. After the event, Mr Salman gave an interview to BBC on his own journey and mission of a Rock & Roll Jihad:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/10138395.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8695000/8695169.stm
OUPakSoc mentioned in Dawn News
Irfan Husain delivered a talk about "Perceptions of the West in the minds of a common Pakistani" at Oriel College, Oxford. Details of the talk and event were mentioned in an article in DAWN:
Mr. Husain is a prominent Pakistani journalist who has been writing in the Pakistani press for over 30 years. When he started writing he was a civil servant so he had to write under different names which ranged from Akbar Hussein, Ferida Sher, Abdul Ghani, Shakir Husain, and Mazdak. After taking early retirement he began writing under his own name. He has been widely published in almost every major newspaper in Pakistan and currently he writes weekly columns for Dawn, the Daily Times, and the Khaleej Times.
OUPakSoc Debate on Kashmir
OUPakSoc organised a debate "This House Believes That Kashmir is an Integral Part of Pakistan" with the Oxford Indian Society. The speakers for the proposition were Sohaib Naim (Oberlin), Asad Liaqat (Williams) and Muhammad Ali Rai (Oxford) while the speakers from the opposition were Venkatesh Rao (Oxford), Abhishek Bhattacharyya (Oxford) and Prasan Dhar (Oxford). The chair was prominent academic on Kashmir, Ms Victoria Schofield and there was a very interactive and heated discussion session after the debate followed by an enlightening concluding speech by Ms Schofield.
OUPakSoc Debate on State Religion and Annual Mushaira
The OUPakSoc Annual Mushaira was held on 20th February 2010 at Harris Lecture Theatre, Oriel College, Oxford. The Mushaira consisted of performances from both students and professional poets and was very well attended. Sohail Chowdary, D Phil Student in International Relations, hosted the Mushaira and the poets who performed at the Mushaira included Akbar Hyderabadi, Sairah Batool, Yashab Tamanna, Basir Kazmi, Faizan Arif and Noor Jahan Noori. This gathering was dedicated to the memory of the eminent Oxford poet Khalid Yousaf, who sadly passed away last year
OUPakSoc organised a debate "This House Believes That There Should Be No State Religion in Pakistan." The speakers for the proposition were Sohaib Naim (Oberlin), Asad Liaqat (Williams) and Omar Arshad (LCA) while the speakers from the opposition were Hasan Ali (Oxford), Yasser Bhatti (Oxford) and Mohammad Ali Rai (Oxford). The chair was prominent academic on Pakistan and South Asia, Professor Iftikhar Malik and there was a very interactive and heated discussion session after the debate followed by an enlightening concluding speech by Prof. Malik. The final voting score was 32-18 in favor of the proposition.
Seminar on UK Immigration Laws
OUPakSoc took part in a panel discussion hosted by the Nawai-Waqt Group at Oxford University. The event was an initiative of the Nawai-Waqt Group and was supported by NUPSA and the Oxford University Pakistan Society. The discussion centred on current affairs issues including UK visas, radicalisation, foreign policy, education, governance and economics. There were distinguished guests (Amjad Malik, Lord Nazir, etc) on the panel that included senior government official (Pakistani origin) and key stakeholders of the present situation in Pakistan and of Pakistanis living abroad.
The immigration experts termed the new immigration laws discriminatory while the members of the European and UK parliaments also expressed their reservations over these laws. Oxford student Qasim Raza declared the recent changes in immigration laws as an injustice to the Pakistanis. He said he had received numerous complaints that undue delay was caused in the issuance of visas resulting in loss of an academic year of a number of students. He demanded of the Pakistani government to set up a network on High Commission level so that Pakistanis coming to the UK for getting education might be protected from falling prey to fake challenges. Hussain Nadeem, the co-chairman of the Internal Affairs of Pakistan Young Leaders Council, strongly criticised the foreign policy of Pakistan, saying that the foreign policy was under the influence of the Army owing to tensions in Pak-India relations and war on terror and it would take time to neutralise this influence.
More details: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/01-Mar-2010/UK-immigration-laws-discriminatory
Live With Talat (with OUPakSoc and NUPSA)
The joint committee session of Pakistan Young Leaders Conference was held at the Oxford Union on 30th January 2010 which was followed by a panel discussion conducted by Talat Hussain for the hit TV Program "Live With Talat" on AAJ TV. The guests on the panel included Barrister Amjad Malik (PML-N Advisor), Mansur Raja (PPP Central Executive Committee), Khursheed Ahmed (political analyst) and Muhammad Anwar (MQM Rabta Committee).The discussion mainly focused on Pakistan's Foreign Policy and Interior Affairs. The event was hosted by OUPakSoc and NUPSA.
Live with Talat 1:: http://pkaffairs.com/playshow.asp?pageId=7401http://pkaffairs.com/playshow.asp?pageId=7401
Live with Talat 2: http://pkaffairs.com/playshow.asp?pageId=7414http://pkaffairs.com/playshow.asp?pageId=7414
Pakistan Young Leaders Conference 2010
The objective of this Conference was to provide a forum to the youth to discuss the challenges confronting the country at this point of time. PYLC was a leadership development program that aimed to bring together outstanding young people from around the country and help them build critical leadership skills that would help them groom into successful leaders of the future. This program gave the participants a greater understanding of their roles as national ambassadors and educated them about the problems faced by Pakistan. The conference served as a platform for the youth to think about these problems and propose possible solutions. PYLC, aimed to foster leadership skills among the participants, the two day Conference held in Oxford was attended by notable politicians, senior bureaucrats and renowned journalists. The interactive student discussions were centered on suggesting resolutions for Pakistan’s problems and thus inculcating the spirit of problem-solving among the youth which is crucial for our country in the current turmoil.
PYLC Oxford 2010 was a first of its kind in Pakistan in which brought together Pakistani students from the likes of Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge and numerous major institutions across the country. The summit was aired on the most popular national current affairs program “Live with Talat”, broadcasted over two episodes.
OUPakSoc hosts Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Oxford University Pakistan Society hosted Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Oxford Union on 30th January 2010. Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi is the current Foreign Minister of Pakistan. He is a senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, where he was the president of PPP Punjab. Qureshi got his early education from Aitchison College, Lahore and did his bachelors from FC college, Lahore. He continued to receive a Master's degree in law from the University of Cambridge. Following the February 2008 elections, Qureshi was also a candidate to be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, until Yousaf Raza Gillani was sworn in on March 25, 2008. On March 31, 2008, Qureshi became the Foreign Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.
The event was very well attended with an interactive Q & A session with the students. Shah Mahmood Qureshi gave a talk regarding Pakistan's Foreign Policy and the progress the country has been making under his party's government. He was asked several tough questions by the audience regarding the PPP's policies in the government.
OUPakSoc hosts Imran Khan
Oxford University Pakistan Society hosted Imran Khan at the Oxford Union on 19th January 2010. Imran Khan read Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Keble College, Oxford. He joined Pakistan's national cricket team and in 1992 won the World Cup under his captaincy. In 1996, Mr Khan founded and became the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice), a small and marginal political party which has now become the fastest growing political party in Pakistan. Imran Khan, through worldwide fundraising, established the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Lahore and the Mianwali's Namal University. He also serves as the Chancellor of Bradford University.
The event was very well attended with an interactive Q & A session with the students. Imran Khan gave a talk regarding the problems in Pakistan and his party's ideas for the future and betterment of Pakistan.
Donations for Internally Displaced Persons from Swat operation
Oxford University Pakistan Society will be collecting charity for Internally Displaced Persons from the ongoing Swat operation. WE WILL BE PLACING DONATION BOXES AT EACH OF OUR EVENTS and any contributions on your part will be extremely helpful.
For your ease we will also be accepting cheques and online transfers for this donation. The donation amount can be directly transferred to our account. If you make any online transfer, please send an email to president@oupaksoc.org stating the amount that you have transferred. The account information is given below:
Bank & Branch: NatWest, Cornmarket Street Branch, Oxford, OX1 3ES
Account Title: Oxford Pakistan Society
Account Number: 27024768
Sort Code: 54-21-33
Please remember that these people are in urgent need of our attention and any contribution from your part would go a long way in helping their sustenance during this time of hardship.
Society renamed to Oxford University Pakistan Society
The University of Oxford has agreed to give Oxford Pakistan Society its trademark. In light of this great decision, we have changed the name of the society to Oxford University Pakistan Society. This will entitle us to all the facilities that the university offers to its societies. The 2009 committee is thus proud to announce this achievement.
Windsor Fellowship Leadership Programme
*Are you from an Asian or black ethnic minority community?
*Are you in the first year of a 3 year course, or 2nd year of a four year course?
If yes then we have an exciting news for you.
You have the opportunity to apply for the *Windsor Fellowship Leadership
Programme for Undergraduates* (LPU), through which you will gain,
amongst other things:
- the chance to work closely with a UK-wide group of dynamic students
- skills outside of your degree, through intensive weekend seminars
- a summer internship with a high profile company (ranging from The Home
Office to JP Morgan)
- the chance to draw on the experiences and support of a range of
professionals
More information is also available at: www.windsor-fellowship.org/Leadership.htm
*Applications for the LPU close on 29th Feb 2008*
Life-Time Memberships Re-opened
Life-time memberships of Oxford Pakistan Society have been re-opened and everyone can register for it at our upcoming events. Life-time memberships shall cost £15 for new members and £10 for current members. Life-time members shall be issued their own life-time membership cards and would continue to enjoy full members' rights even after they leave Oxford.
A list of the life-time members shall be posted in the members section of the website.
Pakistan Festival 2007 in London
To mark 60 years of Pakistan’s independence, Pakistan High
Commission UK has announced that a festival will take place in
London on 28 July 2007, comprising a parade and a style-n-sound
show.
The first ever open air Pakistan Festival to be held in the heart of
London, at Trafalgar Square, will celebrate the country’s
independence and salute the contributions of British Pakistanis.
In partnership with Geo TV, the event will start with a parade
originating at Hyde Park and making its way via Piccadilly Circus,
Haymarket and Pall Mall East to Trafalgar Square.
The parade will consist of a pipe band from Pakistan, a British band
of the Life Guards, as well as floats depicting the colours of
Pakistan. At Trafalgar Square a six hour show will proceed at around
1 p.m. with a cultural extravaganza followed by pop, bhangra and
folk music. A star-studded cast has been lined up including
Abrar-ul-Haq, Hadiqa Kiyani, Ali Zafar and Jawad Ahmed.
Colourful stalls offering Pakistani cuisine and displaying Pakistani
products and handicrafts will create a ‘mela’ or festival
atmosphere. Fashion icon Maheen Khan’s urban fashion line
couture inspired by Pakistani truck art will also be on display.
Special T-shirts and caps as well as other souvenirs will be
distributed while participants are being requested to bring as many
Pakistani flags as possible.
Varsity Pakistan Day : Oxford vs Cambridge vs Imperial
Oxford Pakistan Society is proud to invite you to first ever
Varsity Pakistan Day. Three best universities of UK - Oxford,
Cambridge and Imperial are coming face to face to compete in
cricket, squash, badminton, chess, monopoly, scrabble and punting.
Meet friends from Imperial and Cambridge, support your team and
enjoy lip smacking BBQ and grilled food.
1100 Arrival of Cambridge and Imperial PakSoc
1130-1500 BBQ Lunch
1130-1500 Punting Race (Ox vs Cam vs Imperial)
1500-1800 20/20 Cricket Match
1500-1800 Tennis/Squash/Badminton/Board Games Competitions
1830 Cambridge and Imperial PakSoc Leaves
Place: Wolfson College (Ask lodge for location of BBQ grills)
Time : 11:00 am, Saturday 16th June
Pakistan India Match and BBQ
Pakistan-India did not come face to face in Cricket World Cup
2007, but this is the time to decide. Join your friends to watch the
two teams battle out, what promises to be an exciting duel between
Oxford Pakistan and Indian Society Cricket Teams. Whether you are a
die hard fan of the cricket, a loyal patriot on either side of the
border, or simply want to enjoy the highly charged atmosphere, join
us for an exciting event!
Oxford Pakistan Society is proud to invite you for India-Pakistan,
One-Day Cricket match. Enjoy delicious BBQ while watching the two
rivals fighting for victory trying to grill each other.
Place: Mansfield/Merton Ground Time : 01:00 pm, Sunday 13th May
Literary Evening
Oxford Asian Cultural Association is organizing a literary evening with Oxford Pakistan Society on Sunday March 18, 2007.
Speakers Forum - Pakistan's Geo-Politics & Islamic Extremism
Oxford Pakistan Society Speakers Forum is organizing an event on Wednesday February 28, 2007.
Cricket Team Selection, Trials & Practice Sessions
Pakistan Society is holding trail sessions in 8th week to select Pakistani team for upcoming matches:
- Pakistan India Match
- PakSoc Wadham College Match
- Oxford World Cup
Imran Zahid (Oxford Blues), Ahmed Bilal & Tanzeem-ul-Haq will be organizing trial sessions and practice matches. Please send an email by 01 March, 2007 to
sports@oupaksoc.org to play for Pakistan Society Cricket Team.
Engineers Without Border Showcase Event - Call for Praticipation
Engineers Without Borders, Oxford is organizing an event to showcase the different cultures around the world and help raise awareness in how to sustain and support these cultures. The event will be run on Tuesday 8th week which is the 6th March from 5 till 8 pm. Pakistan Society is collaborating with EWB to showcase a stall with traditional activities, clothes, food and may put together a performance of traditional dance or music.
If you are an undergraduate/postgraduate at Engineering Science, Oxford and would like to arrange a stall, please reply on events section of discussion forum or send an email at events@oupaksoc.org
Imperial College Arts, Culture & Politics Seminar 2007
Imperial College Pakistan Society, in collaboration with Oxford Pakistan Society, are organising a massive Pakistani cultural event on 14th March 2007 in London. The full day event would include an exhibition for Pakistani art from students and professionals including paintings, sketches, fabrics, photography and sculptures etc. Ustad Latafat Ali Khan is being invited to give a showcase of classical Pakistani music. A mushaira and lectures/debates on Pakistani politics are organized, which will be followed by traditional pakistani food.
If you want to attend or willing to display art or photography related to Pakistan in 'Asian Expression' themed exhibiton, Please contact Ammar Waraich, President, Imperial College Pakistan Society.
Lehman Brothers Ethnic Minorities Internships
Lehman Brothers Multicultural Network (LBMCN), established in 2006, not only provides a supportive environment to the Firm's ethnic minority employees but also reaches out to the ethnic minority community by sponsoring various programmes and networking events. In this regard, LBMCN is holding "The Inaugural Investment Banking Pan-Society Event" at Oxford in collaboration with various societies representing ethnic minorities including Oxford Pakistan Society. Please see the flyer for details of the event.
In addition, Lehman Brothers are also offering a 2-weeks paid internship for 1st years and 2nd Years on a 4 year course who are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Please see the flyer for details of internships.
Mushaira
Oxford Pakistan Society will be organizing a Mushaira event on Saturday February 17, 2007.
Buffet Dinner at St Peters College
Oxford Pakistan Society is pleased to invite you to Buffet Dinner in collaboration with The Bombay Restaurant - Saffron Indian Restaurant and Kebab Kid on Staurday, January 27th 2007.
President & VP meet MEP Sharon Bowels
The draft report titled " Kashmir: present situation and future prospects" presented recently by Member of European Parliment Baroness Emma Nicholson to the European Parliment's foreign affairs committee for endorsement, has been widely criticized in Pakistan as well as Kashmiri circles. The report has been termed as exceedingly partisan and biased. Because of its controversial nature, major amendments are likely to be made in the committee's next meeting in March 2007.
British MEPs, Sharon Bowles and Sajjad Karim have proposed various amendments to ensure that the report becomes fair and balanced. MEP Sharon Bowles was invited to Oxford to discuss the proposed amendments with the community. The meeting was chaired by Lord Mayor of the city and Oxford Pakistan Society was represented by the President, Tahir Mansoori and the Vice-President, Imran Qureshi of the society.