The USA management has appointed Pakistani-American Dr Asif Mahmood as a member of the USA Fee on Global Non secular Independence (USCIRF). He’s designated because the Commissioner USCIRF.
He is known as via US Area Minority chief Hakeem Jeffries to the important thing submit. The longtime Democrat, Mahmood is the second one Pakistani-American to have this type of key function in any US management.
Previous, Khizr Khan, a Gold Megastar father, had served at the Fee from August 2021 to Might 2022.
In step with a press notice issued via the USCIRF, Asif Mahmood is a training doctor, human rights activist, interracial and inter-faith crowd organiser, and philanthropist. He led the advocacy for lots of human rights campaigns keen on South Asia. Mahmood was once a Delegate for the Democratic Nationwide Conference from 2008 to 2016 and held many jobs in presidential campaigns. He’s additionally lately the Chair of the Organisation for Social Media Protection (OFSSMS) and Board Member of Hope the Project, one of the most biggest homeless shelters in California.
The USA fee is an distant, bipartisan govt company which no longer most effective problems coverage tips but additionally serves as a watchdog.
In step with its web site, “USCIRF monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad; makes policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress; and tracks the implementation of these recommendations.”
World wide, the fee is healthier identified for its important annual file or alternative publications that spotlight the violation of spiritual liberty. Therefore, its stories alarm international locations on what coverage adjustments to be expecting in case of unpleasant transgression.
Lately, the fee is headed via Abraham Cooper era Frederick A. Davie is the Vice Chair. Alternative individuals come with David Curry, Mohamed Magid (a local of Sudan), Stephen Schneck, Nury Turkel, Eric Ueland and Frank Wolf.
Who’s Dr Asif Mahmood
Born to a lower-middle-class population, Mahmood is a real instance of a self-made individual. He was once born in a far off village of Kharian within the province of Punjab. To bring to review medication, he moved to Karachi and graduated from Sindh Clinical School (SMC).
Since 1999, Mahmood has been residing in Pasadena, a town in the USA situation of California. Professionally, he’s a pulmonologist and physician of interior medication. Throughout Covid-19, he performed a the most important function in devising a technique to struggle the pandemic.
He additionally serves at the biggest clinical board in america of The united states. Statewide, Dr Asif could also be revered for no longer inquiring for cost from those that don’t have fitness insurance coverage. He believes getting fitness amenities is the birthright of each individual.
Dr Asif has additionally rendered his products and services to the philanthropic efforts of UNICEF and plenty of alternative NGOs.
Political profession
Within the ultimate 10 years, Dr Asif has additionally attempted his success in politics. He was once the primary Pakistani-American who contested for Congress within the ultimate Mid-term elections. He misplaced to incumbent Younger Kim in California District 40 however rubs shoulders with lead Democrat leaders and key workplace bearers.
It become extra visible when Vice President Kamal Harris recommended and advocated for his marketing campaign. As an issue of truth, it was once payback as all over the presidential election primaries, Mahmood had most popular to backup Harris over Joe Biden.
Alternative admirers come with former US Secretary of Environment Hillary Clinton who had venerated Mahmood via arranging his political tournament. It was once any other first-of-its-kind marketing campaign tournament for any Pakistani American baby-kisser.
Others who recommended him incorporated Environment governor Gavin Newsom, US Senator Cory Booker, Alex Padilla, Tim Kaine, Bob Menendez and Adam Schiff. Numerous US Area Representatives together with Greg Meeks, Karen Bass, Lou Correa, Pete Aguilar, Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Jim Costa, Barbara Lee, Tony Cardenas, Jimmy Levin, Judy Chu, Sara Jacobs, Ted Lieu, Alan Lowenthal, Katie Porter, Brad Sherman, Norma Torres and Eleni Kounalakis similarly recommended his candidacy.
Previous, he had unsuccessfully contested for the Insurance coverage Commissioner of California. But, he bagged extra votes than any alternative Muslim-American within the historical past of america of The united states.
Pakistan connection
Mahmood enjoys just right family members with the leaders of primary political events in Pakistan together with PTI, PPP, PML-N and PML-Q.
He’s a usual customer to his fatherland. Terminating era, Mahmood visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi the place he met High Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Faryal Talpur and Governor Sindh Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori.
Mahmood could also be credited for lobbying for the historical Congressional listening to on Kashmir in 2019. The listening to was once held later Bharat took unlawful and unilateral steps within the Preoccupied Jammu and Kashmir to switch its condition.
Mahmood was once the one Pakistani-American who testified prior to the Congress. He stated, “Kashmiris are not alone and we will stand with them till each and every one of them get their basic human rights secured.”
This is without doubt one of the explanation why his appointment as a member of the USA Fee on Global Non secular Independence will lift eyebrows in Unused Delhi.
