Top Pakistani-American Democrats will host US Vice President Kamala Harris on June 26, hailing her as a pivotal figure in promoting progressive values and strengthening community ties due to her egalitarian and pro-immigrant stance.
Renowned Pakistani-American physician and philanthropist Dr. Asif Mahmood will host the event at his California residence, while he will be co-hosted by Tanweer Ahmed, a business tycoon and entrepreneur in the United States.
The reception for Harris, who is seeking re-election as sitting vice president, comes as the US presidential election campaign is heating up. It is not surprising that all eyes are focused on what Harris will say on local, regional and international issues.
After all, the event is being organized one day before the first presidential debate between incumbent President Joe Biden and his fierce Republican rival Donald Trump.
For the past four years, Harris has quietly maintained a low profile. This approach has helped her maintain her character, as she once sharply criticized her Democratic rival Joe Biden during the 2020 primary. Dr. Mahmood, a longtime Democrat and recently appointed U.S. Commissioner for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has always preferred Harris to Biden.
In 2020, it was evident that Joe Biden would be nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. However, Dr. Mahmood decided to stay close to Harris and received her at her residence.
During that event, Harris expressed her gratitude saying, “He (Dr. Mahmood) has been supporting me for so many years, and when I made the decision to run for president of the United States, he was one of the first calls I received.” . made. “
“He was incredibly encouraging and supportive, and that has always been the case. He stepped up from the beginning and I can't thank him enough.
“Not only is he a very successful professional, but he truly is an extraordinary American leader,” Harris concluded while praising his support.
Dr. Mahmood's gesture was duly reciprocated by Harris. In 2022, when a Pakistani-American pulmonologist ran for Congress, he endorsed his campaign and attended a fundraiser. The two had also met in April last year to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Mahmood is equally close to former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During her primary election, Dr. Mahmood had supported her candidacy for president over Biden's. For her part, Hillary endorsed Dr. Mahmood for Congress. Hillary Clinton went the extra mile by hosting political events for Dr. Mahmood.
It was the first campaign event of its kind for any Pakistani-American politician. In a special message recorded for this scribe after that event, the former first lady had said: “One of Dr. Mahmood's greatest qualities is that he has never sent anyone home for not being able to pay the fee.”
Born in a lower middle class family, Mahmood is a true example of a self-made person. He was born in a remote village of Kharian in the province of Punjab. To study medicine, he moved to Karachi and graduated from Sindh Medical College (SMC). He subsequently emigrated to the United States of America.
According to a press release issued by the USCIRF, Mahmood is a practicing physician, human rights activist, interracial and interfaith community organizer, and philanthropist. He has also led the promotion of many human rights campaigns focused on South Asia.
Mahmood was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from 2008 to 2016 and served in many roles on presidential campaigns. He is also the current president of the Organization for Social Media Safety (OFSSMS) and a board member of Hope the Mission, one of the largest homeless shelters in California.
On the other hand, Tanweer Ahmad, the co-host of the event, is also very close to the Democratic hierarchy. He is one of the few Pakistani-Americans who rubs shoulders with former President Barack Obama and the Clinton family, to name a few.
In Pakistan, Ahmad is best known as a philanthropist. He made headlines by donating $9 million to the National University of Science and Technology for the development of the information technology tower. Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir once acknowledged his role saying, “Pakistan is proud of heroes like him.”
Ahmad's vision of promoting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pakistan has also brought him closer to Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori. He has also donated generously to Governor Tessori's free IT program and his initiative for unemployed youth to start their own businesses.
Like Dr. Mahmood, Ahmad also comes from a humble background. He was born in Sialkot to a farmer. With a borrowed bill and $23 in his pocket, he landed in New York City at age 18. He now owns several businesses and employs more than 5,000 people throughout the United States.
Ahmad believes Democrats can offer more to the immigrant community than Republicans. For him, supporting Harris is a fight for a better, brighter, more equal future for all.
