Mehlaqa Samdani
@MehlaqaCAPJ • 20,517 subscribers
Director, @Alliance4PJ Transforming U.S. policy towards Pakistan and Palestine through political advocacy, public education, and multimedia campaigns
Shorts
Videos
Such a sweet story! Here, Mehdi Hasan describes his interaction with an Uber driver about Imran Khan
Mehlaqa Samdani413,122 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten
The ‘honorable’ mention the Pakistani PM and FM got for their support ‘from the very beginning’
Mehlaqa Samdani337,546 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten
Dr. Norman Finkelstein explains why he is suspicious of right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens co-opting the Gaza cause. (Remarks made at the Eyewitness Palestine event, May 29) #Politics #CurrentEvents #SocialCommentary #Politics #SocialCommentary #Gaza
Mehlaqa Samdani24,181 Aufrufe • vor 18 Tagen
I urge Muslim voters who supported Donald J. Trump to watch this clip of him expressing Islamophobic views on a global platform. Please consider this when deciding whether to back MAGA Republicans in next year's midterms. Richard Grenell, you have Muslim friends—will you condemn this?
Mehlaqa Samdani232,053 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten
As we ring in the new year, may it be one that delivers Pakistan from the yoke of military rule, and ushers in an era where people can peacefully protest/speak up for their rights without fear of being disappeared, tortured, and killed. Pakistanis deserve better!
Mehlaqa Samdani242,722 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
It was quite an experience participating at the Georgetown Pakistan Policy Conclave Pak Futures Foundation on Saturday, which brought together hundreds of students, academics, entrepreneurs, journalists, healthcare professionals, and members of the Pakistani diaspora who traveled from across the U.S. and even Canada to attend. It was wonderful to interact and exchange views with the next generation of Pakistani-Americans, who were so committed to the future of Pakistan. It was primarily a student-driven event in partnership with Wajahat S. Khan and Amna Khilji, who had put together a similar event at Yale University earlier this year. There was a lot of controversy (understandably so) surrounding the Pakistani ambassador’s attendance in the last session. When I learned of his participation, I had considered withdrawing from the conference but felt a commitment to the panelists I had agreed to moderate. Instead, I decided to use my participation to ensure that the topic of military authoritarianism stayed a consistent point of discussion throughout the various panels. Below are some questions asked: To Raza Ahmad Rumi and liberal elites for not speaking out more forcefully against military authoritarianism To policy wonks/analysts Sahar Khan and Michael Kugelman who work on U.S. - Pakistan relations on why military authoritarianism and its destabilizing effect is not a greater part of their analysis. To entrepreneurs and investors on how military authoritarianism impacts investments Walked out on the last panel, which included the Pakistani ambassador Pakistan Embassy US--we were planning to disrupt the panel, but didn’t get the opportunity. Will share the recording of the panel I moderated once it becomes available
Mehlaqa Samdani94,520 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
It was such an honor to moderate the congressional briefing hosted by Congressman Greg Casar on the #IslamabadMassacre. Here our champion in Congress Rep. Jim McGovern, co-chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission makes a strong case to uphold human rights, democratic norms, and judicial independence in Pakistan.
Mehlaqa Samdani194,987 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
British human rights activist, Dr. Sabreena Razaq, has launched a powerful project "Do the Right Thing" Do The Right Thing. Her mission: to connect the diaspora with policymakers across the world, urging them to unite and take action against authoritarianism in Pakistan. We need more voices like her speaking truth to power. Follow Do The Right Thing and share the message!
Mehlaqa Samdani77,136 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten
Amazing turnout mashallah!! And we’re just getting started #protestagainstasimmunir
Mehlaqa Samdani118,575 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
An excerpt of Gen. Asim Munir’s reported remarks at the dinner reception: “They say war is too serious to be left to the generals, but politics is also too serious to be left to the politicians” Wonder how his civilian lackeys feel about these golden words
Mehlaqa Samdani70,655 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten
The Pakistan Democracy Act (H.R. 2311) and its historic significance
Mehlaqa Samdani70,913 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Powerful words by Haider Mehdi sb—the crowd went wild! #protestagainstasimmunir
Mehlaqa Samdani65,646 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
🚨 Urging @RepRules: Don't block vote on bipartisan amendment 492 by Rep. Jim McGovern & Joe Wilson. Stand against military regimes crushing democracy & human rights! House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority Armed Services GOP House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems Virginia Foxx House Rules Democrats
Mehlaqa Samdani49,987 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten
Friends, I deleted my earlier tweet–the one below provides a fuller, more accurate picture of what happened, including details about conference funding, Wajahat S. Khan support, etc. Dear Moeed Pirzada, great questions! Here is an attempt to respond to your very valid concerns as somebody, who was not involved in the organizing of this conference, but was invited months ago to participate as a moderator: From what I could tell, this conference was designed to engage the next generation of Pakistani-Americans in a conversation on Pakistan. They decided to come up with panels on health, startups, technology, diplomacy, health, law, etc. The students I interacted with were simply excited to be hosting such a huge academic event on campus. Most panelists on the public policy panels were not pro-democracy activists (in relation to IK, PTI, etc,) other than the two PTI leaders who were invited to come, myself, and a couple of others. In fact, many who were invited have been relatively silent in their condemnation of blatant human rights violations in Pakistan (as it relates to IK, PTI, etc). I therefore felt my role at the conference was to make sure students and audience members heard the pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian perspective as much as possible. This conference was not framed within the context of military authoritarianism, which in my opinion, was a missed opportunity. In this current moment, especially if we are trying to engage the next generation of Pakistani-Americans in a discussion on Pakistan, any conversation around the economy, technology, diplomacy, politics, civil society, law, etc. should be approached through the lens of entrenched military authoritarianism. The Georgetown conference was more generic and reflected a pro-establishment, pro-status quo bent. So in my opinion, that criticism of the conference is valid. Just as at Yale earlier in the year, I had been invited to moderate a panel with Pakistani-Americans who had decided to not pursue traditional desi career paths (doctors and engineers), but were instead trailblazers in their respective fields of climate justice, journalism, politics, and public policy. The idea was to inspire students in the audience to pursue these career paths so that Pakistani voices could be amplified in these non-traditional fields. While human rights and democracy were not the subject of the panel, I tried to incorporate them in the discussion as you’ll see below. Also, I should mention here that when I raised all my concerns about the conference to Wajahat S. Khan prior to the event, and told him I was going to protest, he encouraged me to do so and even alerted me about the various opportunities where I could protest. It was his suggestion that I bring up the ambassador at the end of my panel and to tell people to call him out. That part can be viewed below: To say this was an ISI financed and sponsored event without any solid evidence seems irresponsible and sensationalist, and also a disservice to the students who organized it. As far as I know, this conference was sponsored by GT’s School of Foreign Service and School of Public Health, as well as donations by the community and ticket sales ($50/person). The reason I find the ‘ISI financing’ bit hilarious is because Wajahat S. Khan and Amna had reached out to us and other community members to help raise funds for this conference. My husband and I donated and also waived our travel/accommodation expenses so as to help them out. We also identified other friends they could reach out to for funds. I’m not sure that would have happened if the ISI had been financing the whole thing:)! People are wondering how so many international guests could have participated with limited funding, but as far as I know, Hamid Mir was the only person who attended in person from Pakistan–the rest participated online. As far as my participation in the conference is concerned, I felt a commitment to the panelists that I was moderating and didn’t want to abandon them at the last minute. In fact, when I spoke to Wajahat S. Khan the evening before the event, he offered me the option of opting out, but again, it felt unprofessional for me to do so and I decided to go ahead and participate, and in the process disrupt as much as possible. Those criticizing my decision to participate have every right to do so, and in many ways the criticism is valid. One way to protest is to boycott these discussions so as not to normalize them; another way is to be there and try to disrupt–I tried to do the latter by drilling down on the issue of military authoritarianism as much as I could. But of course, those reading this might have a different opinion. One final word: At the last session, when I tried to disrupt the session with the Pakistani ambassador by trying to heckle him, my mic was taken away by one of the organizers, at which point I walked out. I know the students didn’t want to embarrass the ambassador, but the fact remains that somebody who represents a fascist regime should be named and shamed–that this was the only panel where questions were not allowed was wrong.
Mehlaqa Samdani33,787 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten
Why, according to his sons, Imran Khan won't take a deal?
Mehlaqa Samdani26,451 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten