Pakistan Independence Day celebrated in Rochdale

The Mayor of Rochdale Councillor James Gartside; Ghulam Rasul Shahzad OBE JP, Chairman Action for Pakistan Interntional and Member of Parliament, Simon Danczuk

Pakistan Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Rochdale yesterday (14 August) as the Pakistani flag was raised.

Mayor of Rochdale James Gartside, Labour MP Simon Danczuk and Chairman of the Action for Pakistan Ghulam Rasul Shahzad OBE raised the flag, watched by representatives of various organisations including magistrates, local councillors and members of the Pakistani community.

Ghulam Rasul Shahzad recited verses of the Holy Qur’an and provided supporters with a brief background into Pakistani culture; including Ramadan. He also highlighted the progress made in all aspects of the community by Pakistanis and Kashmiris and paid tribute to the UK system in which there are Pakistani, Kashmiri and Muslim ministers, Lords, MPs, Mayors and councillors.

Mr Shahzad was eager to thank the people of Rochdale, Rochdale Council, Greater Manchester Police and all local organisations for their continued support and co-operation to Rochdale’s Pakistani and Kashmiri community. He said: “It is because of this continued support that, for the last 25 years, I have been raising the Pakistani flag annually on 23 March, Pakistani Revolution Day and 14 August, Pakistani Independence Day.

“We have many successful projects with one of our twin towns, Sahiwal in Pakistan, such as a maternity project and training for the police. Local MPs, Mayors, councillors and doctors have even visited to help those in Pakistan and Kashmir, and we really appreciate these initiatives.”

Mr Shahzad continued: “In all communities, countries and towns there are good and bad people. Recently there has been much negativity about Pakistanis and Muslims; but I ask local communities not to make assumptions about the whole community because few criminals, who have committed heinous crimes, do not belong to any community and should be dealt with according to the law.

“I would like to thank everyone for their attendance and continued support. I’d also like to wish the Muslim community a happy Independence Day, happy Ramadan and a happy Eid ul Fitr next week.”

Simon Danczuk, MP, said: “I have been to Kashmir and I am representing the Kashmiri and Pakistani community both in Parliament and on various committees.

“I appreciate the contribution by the Pakistani and Kashmiri community and Rochdale and am very pleased to have so many friends within the community. Some people in the media have Islamophobia and any negative views about Muslims and Pakistanis are highlighted; but the people are intelligent enough to understand who is right and who is wrong.”

Councillor Ashley Dearnley, Leader of the Rochdale Conservative Party, also congratulated the Pakistani and Kashmiri community on the 65th anniversary of the Independence of Pakistan and said: “I have always supported the event. The Olympic Games 2012 have brought the whole world together, and we needed to keep this spirit all the time as we are one community.”