Houstonian Corner (V13-I23)

Captivating Mushaira Organized by Engineer Shamshad Wali & Team of Gahwarah-e-Adab

Gahwarah-e-Adab was found in 1989 in Karachi, Pakistan. Since then Gahwarah-e-Adab has been working to promote Urdu literature and poetry all over the world. In USA, a branch of Gahwarah-e-Adab was established under the name of Gahwarah-e-Adab USA in the year 2003, and during the last five years, Gahwarah-e-Adab USA has organized several international and domestic poetry recitation events (Mushairas).

This year 19 programs are being organized under the title of “Fifth International Pakistan-India Friendship Mushaira”. This past night of Saturday-&-morning of Sunday (10:30pm.-2:30am), Engineer Shamshad Wali and his able Gahwarah-e-Adab Houston team organized a well attended Mushaira (tenth of the 19 scheduled this year for USA), at the Royal Center. Books and CDs of various poets were on sale, and refreshments were given to the large enthusiasts of poetry, who had fervently gathered.

First part of the Mushaira had local Houston poets making their splendid presentations. Engineer Shamshad Wali presided over this segment. The second session included guest poets from Pakistan, and India, and that was chaired by Iqbal Haider Sahab.

Program started with nice Qurani recitation by Qari Hashim Abbasi of Madrasae Islamiah, followed by Naat by Mohammad Abid of Houston.

Local and international poets included visiting from Pakistan Umat-ul-Haya Wafa, Aqil Ashraf, Ishrat Afreen, Perwaiz Jafri, Dr. Khalid Rizvi, Salman Jalali, Tariq Hashmi, Tahir Faraz, Malikzadah Manzoor, Muzahir Hussain, Naeem Hamid Ali Hamid, and Iqbal Haider.

The hall with four hundred seats was brimming with admirers of good poetry and stayed till the end at 2:30am.

In a communiqué, Engineer Shamshad Wali has thanked all the people, who came to attend this function, has applauded his team of volunteers for job well done, thanked Naeem Khan for making the nice stage & the good sound system, and hard work of young Ali Fakhar for video recording the event.

For more information, one can contact Engineer Shamshad Wali at 1-832-875-7996.

Farha Ahmed into the Run-offs for Sugar Land Council

Legal counsel and activist of many community organizations, Attorney Farha Ahmed, after receiving around 35% of the votes, has reached the run-off elections for the City Council of the AAA rated and one of the safest cities in USA, Sugar Land Texas.

Farha is a former Sugar Land Planning and Zoning commissioner and is currently a First Colony Community Association board member. She is considered a strong and independent voice for the residents of District 4. Farha is married and has two children. More information on Farha Ahmed is at www.FarhaAhmed.com

Two Sugar Land City Council positions are into runoff elections, with no candidate earning a majority 50%+ vote. The runoff election will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2011.

In District 3 of City of Sugar Land, Howard Paul will face Amy Mitchell in the runoff to replace Councilman Russell Jones, who is term-limited. Paul earned 651 votes (44%) to candidate Amy Mitchell’s 430 votes (29%), while the third candidate Jim Hoelker earned 411 votes (28%).

In the District 4 race, term-limited councilman Michael Schiff will be replaced by either Farha Ahmed or Harish Jajoo, who will face in the June 11th runoff.

For more information on these elections, please regularly visit http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/ & click Vote.

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