PSNT hosted a largest ever Independence Day Quaid Mela at South Fork Ranch near Plano

By: Raja Zahid A Khanazada Dallas:The largest Pakistani American organization Pakistan Society of North Texas (PSNT) hosted a largest ever Independence Day Quaid Mela at South Fork Ranch near Plano. The event was dedicated to Kashmiri freedom struggle where large number of men, women, children and elderly gathered to celebrate independence of their mother country.(contnue page3) PSNT President Abid Malik’s wife Nausheen Malik and other women handed Pakistani flags to participants of the event. Crowd gathered around various vender booths arranged for the event. ?Texas King? Restaurant was attracted by a large number of people where a variety of cuisine, sugar cane juice and fruit deserts were main attractions.The first session of the event where children sung national anthem, and songs in solidarity with Kashmir. PSNT President Abid Malik welcomed the community and thanked people for their participation in such a big number. He announced the dedication of the event to people of Kashmir and to their struggle for freedom. He said that fundamental human rights are denied to Kashmiris for which we stand with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters with our love and dedication. The first session was conducted by Ghazala Habib, where PSNT Ex President Dr. Riaz Haider, and other officers including Salman Tabani, Amir Ali Rupani, Abid Malik and others addressed the gathering. PSNT presented awards to several of community leaders including members board of trustees Barkat Basaria, Shah Rukh Siddiqui, Dr. Riaz Haider, Mohammed Younus, Amir Ali Rupani, Ghulam Waraich, Nadir Durrani, Shahid Khan and others including Amina Ismail. Pakistan’s hockey star and ex captain Olympian Hassan Sardar was also among participant, who was greeted with loud applause from audience. Addressing the audience Hassan Sardar said, I see higher emotions for Pakistan in Dallas then in Pakistan itself. He appreciated the feelings for Pakistan by Pakistanis living in Dallas.The second session of the mela was conducted by Ghazala Habib And Hasan Somro, where visiting artists from Pakistan, Shazia Manzoor and Naeem Abbas Rufi energized the crowd with national, spiritual and folk songs. Naeem Abbas Rufi brought the memories of Ustad ?Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan?. People in audience entertained thoroughly and completely till late at night.  The event kept people awake till late at night, where they kept on entertaining themselves on national songs where some were dancing, others enjoyed the food and merchants’ booths in the hall.Participants thanked PSNT for providing such a full program for people of Dallas Fort Worth. Indeed, it was a memorable gathering