Jackson fans mark 5th anniversary of icon’s death

GLENDALE: Dozens of Michael Jackson fans laid heaps of flowers Wednesday at the mausoleum where the pop icon is interred, to mark the 5th anniversary of his death.

Around 100 fans, some dressed as the self-proclaimed King of Pop, gathered at the Forest Lawn cemetery outside Los Angeles, where the 50-year-old died while rehearsing for a comeback tour.

"We love you Michael," read a banner on a giant red heart placed outside the small mausoleum in Glendale, north of downtown LA.

Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of an overdose of the clinical anesthetic propofol, administered by his doctor to help treat insomnia as the singer prepared for "This is It" shows in London.

His personal medic Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 over the star´s death and jailed for four years. He was released in October after serving two years.

He had debts of up to $500 million before his death, but in the five years since, his executors have earned more than $700 million, according to a recent book, "Michael Jackson Inc.

"Money-making ventures have included the "This is It" movie of rehearsals for the doomed tour, a touring Cirque du Soleil stage show and two posthumous albums so far, with more to come. (AFP)

Second death anniversary of Bashir Quraishi today

KARACHI: Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) observing the second death anniversary of its former chairperson, Bashir Khan Quraishi, on Monday (today), Geo News reported

Bashir Khan belonged to a poor family of Ratodero, Larkana. Quraishi died on April 7, 2012, in Sakran taluka, Benazirabad. The party and his family believe that he was poisoned and have been demanding that an FIR be registered against the government and law enforcers.

Bashir Quraishi was a true disciple of the founder of Jeay Sindh Movement, G.M. Syed, whose non-violence policy attracted him to join the Jeay Sindh Students Jderation in 1976.

Later, he was elected JSQM chairman in 1998 and played an important role in making the party popular among the students and the people of the province of Sindh.

Bashir Quraishi died at the age of 52 and his death still remains a mystery as even after lapse of two years no convincing investigation could reveal the cause of his sudden death.

Fifth anniversary of HKSCA celebrated

HOUSTON: Mayor Annise Parker of Houston seems to be keen to lead a high profile business and investment delegation to Karachi and other cities of Pakistan; and to make this a fruitful reality, Consul General of Pakistan Afzaal Mahmood said.

Expressing his views at the 5th Anniversary Meeting of Board of Directors of the Houston Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), Afzaal Mahmood said: “We are public servants at the Consulate. We have a limited staff of seven to eight persons. That is not our whole team. Our Consulate's team includes all the organizations of Pakistan and all the Pakistanis in Houston & beyond, and we can work together to serve both USA & Pakistan.”

A Special cake was cut on this occasion to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the formation of HKSCA, which was accomplished with the signing of a MoU in 2009 between the then Mayor Bill White of Houston and Nazimae Aala Mustafa Kamal of Karachi at the City Hall in Houston.

Earlier, the Honorable Consul General, all the HKSCA Board Member and Guests were welcomed by President Muhammad Saeed Sheikh. Program started with invocation; adopting of the agenda; which was followed by the welcoming remarks of HKSCA President Mr. Sheikh.

In attendance at this meeting with the Honorable Consul General of Pakistan Afzaal Mahmood; held at a local Houston restaurant; included Commercial Attaché of Pakistan Fawad Shah; Ms. Tomiko Olah, Protocol Manager & Sister Cities Coordinator; Jensen Shen of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP); the visiting member of KHSCA Muzaffar Khan with his friends; and majority of the board & committee chairs of HKSCA including President Muhammad Saeed Sheikh; Vice President Mohammad Zaheer; General Secretary Omar Khawaja; Board of Directors M. J. Khan; Syed Nayyar Izfar; Cristal Montañéz Baylor; & David Godwin; and Committee Chairs of Community Services & Media Affairs ILyas Choudry; Public Relations Matloob Khan; & Publications Amir Maqsood Khan; and Volunteers Rose Ashraf, Inayat Ashraf, Zafar Khan & Abdul Rauf Khan. Community Journalist of "Houston Nama - Pakistan News" Shamim Syed was also in attendance.

After the various reports about the history, educational, trade, cultural, healthcare, and humanitarian endeavors and future plans of HKSCA were presented.

Honorable Consul General Afzaal Mahmood gave some candid remarks, and suggestions, so that the work of HKSCA can be further enhanced:

HKSCA needs to maintain a good database, and share with the Consulate, so as to work as a team. There is need to promote food & culture of Pakistan; and for this, Consulate can provide In-Kind assistance to HKSCA, who should also involve the Pakistani Student Association (PSA), as without youth, sustainability of an organization is not possible, said Mahmood.

Karachi is the 17th Sister City of Houston and the 100th Muslim city to enter the overall Sister City network. The Sister City Association is a voluntary organization created in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of the Sister City International (SCI) organization. SCI's goal is to develop municipal partnerships between US cities, counties, and states with similar jurisdictions in other nations.

"The idea of enhancing the healthcare system in Karachi through tele-medicine between a major hospital in Karachi with a salient hospital in Houston is fantastic, and Consulate will facilitate it thorough the various ministries of Pakistan. Also Ambassador of Pakistan is expected to visit Houston in the month of June 2014. HKSCA should work towards getting the statue of Mr. Jinnah, Founding Father of Pakistan placed in Hermann Park, Houston; and assist to achieve the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Status with the US similar to recently accorded by the European Union to Pakistani trade,” said Consul General of Pakistan Afzaal Mahmood.

 

Zulifkar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary being observed

ISLAMABAD: The 35th Death anniversary of former prime minister and founding chairman of Pakistan People s Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is being observed today (Friday).

Arrangements have been finalized for the huge gathering to be held at Garhi Khuda Baksh in Larkana. People from different parts of the country have started reaching Garhi Khuda Baksh.

Tight security arrangements have been made on the occasion. Special functions will be held to pay tribute to late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Sindh government has announced public holiday throughout the province on the occasion of 35th death anniversary of the former prime minister.

 

Mirza Ghalib’s 216th birth anniversary

Entertainment News : The 216th birth anniversary of renowned poet Mirza Ghalib is being observed Friday (today).

Mirza Ghalib, the last great poet of the Mughal Era, is considered to be one of the most popular and influential poets of the Urdu language.

Ghalib was born on December 27, 1796 in the city of Akbarabad (present Agra). His full name was Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan and Ghalib was his pen name.

He wrote several ghazals during his life which have since been interpreted and sung in many different ways by different people.

Ghalib today remains popular not only in India and Pakistan but also amongst diaspora communities around the world.

Mirza Ghalib is considered to be the most dominating poet of the Urdu language. He was one of the best of Urdu poets who led a drastic revolution in Urdu poetry with his words.

Ghalib felt so much proud of his Persian poetry but his Urdu poetry like Ghazals are also much famous today.

Ghalib started composing poetry at the age of 11. His first language was Urdu but Persian and Turkish were also spoken at home. He got his education in Persian and Arabic at a young age.

Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan Ghalib died on February 15, 1869.