Press Release
3rd Meeting of the Executive Council
Dubai, 6 - 7 September 2001 (Term 2000 -2001)

Dubai city and its expanding suburbia offering the best in modern amenities was the venue for the 3rd Meeting of The Executive Council of the World Federation. The community of Dubai, came out in good numbers to welcome the participants from throughout the world. 

Jafferi International Business Association

The president of the World Federation Al Haj Hasnain Walji was the chief guest at the lunch reception hosted by the Jafferi International Business Association (JIBA) on Thursday afternoon, 6 September 2001. Among the businessmen and industrialists, gathered at the luncheon, were the visiting Councillors and members of the World Federation secretariat team joined by many young professionals.

Al Haj Hasnain Walji, the keynote speaker, in his address responded that the economic well being was indeed a central plank in the health of the Community and JIBA had a major role to play in that sector and therefore it enjoyed the full support of the World Federation. He further recommended that JIBA could provide valuable vehicle for transfer of talents and skills within the Community. As an example he cited the pool of young, well-trained professionals working in high positions in US, Canada and UK, who could be encouraged to share their skills with their peers in the developing countries. The advances in information technology have made this all the more possible. The President opined that with such practical endeavours JIBA would certainly enjoy even greater confidence within the mainstream community.

 The World Federation ‘Open Evening’

Sheikh Mustafa Jaffer, the Chief Co-ordinating Officer illustrated the day-to-day activities at the offices of the Secretariat. And the mode and manner in which the secretariat implemented the decisions made by the Office Bearers and the Executive Council.

On behalf of the CETAB Chairman, Al Haj Murtaza Datoo, Al Haj Mahmood Hooda outlined the goals and objectives of the Career, Education & Training Advisory Board (CETAB) and the importance of loans to deserving students within our community. He also touched upon the aspirations of seeking excellence in the Primary and Secondary schools that exist within our community worldwide. 

On behalf of the ZCSS Chairman, Al Haj Mohamed Visram, the ZCSS team member, Shafique Govani, implored the audience that no child in the community should ever be deprived of attaining basic education. That was the mission of the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme, which is now sponsoring over 11,000 children worldwide.

On behalf of the Chairman of Islamic Education Board, Mulla Muhsin Jaffer, Al Haj Jaffer Dharamsi briefed the house on providing opportunities to all for understanding Islam and sharing the Gift of Islam with each, through activities of the IEB ranging from projects on the Holy Qur'an, Zakireen, Madressa, Media, Books, Internet to many others. 

On behalf of the Chairman of Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Mohamedtaqi Walji, Dr Akber Mithani, a member of the MAB, reiterated the perils of ignoring WF resolutions relating to AIDS and Thallasemia. Emphasising that only by empowering the Health Boards of Regional Federations and Jamaats will we, as a community, be able to effectively promote health awareness and combat diseases. 

The Hon. Treasurer, Al Haj Ahmed Daya demonstrated the trends in receipts and disbursements over the last decade and briefed the house on the funds required to effectively deliver the projects contained in the Vision to Reality document. 

The Vice President, Dr. Ahmed Hassam updated the community on the progress and the current state of the afflicted community in Kutch and Gujarat, and provided details of the work carried out by the World Federation and other community agencies in terms of immediate financial relief, temporary housing and business loans. He also gave an update of the Mulla Asghar Memorial Fund (MMF), giving details of the proposed projects under the MMF.

The Third Meeting of The Executive Council 

Among the Executive Councillors present were Dr Akber Mithani, Dr Asgher Moledina, Al Haj Mahmood Hooda, Al Haj Masum Somji, Al Haj Mustafa Jaffer, Al Haj Haider Haji and Al Haj Aunali Salehmohamed. Councillors representing the following Organisations were also present: Africa Federation, Council of Gujarat, NASIMCO, Jamaats of Dubai, Karachi, Leeds, London, Milton Keynes, Watford, Wessex and Mehfile Murtaza.

Reviewing the status of the Community

In an inspirational address, reviewing the status of the Community, the President stated that increasingly, the World Federation was expected to be defining strategies and policies for the wider Shia Community, which looked upon the Khoja Community to set the trends in the manner with which we all addressed the challenges of the day. This had increased the level of responsibility and now it was all the more necessary to harness the intellectual as much as financial resources of the community around the globe. To enable the community to make progress he discussed four elements of optimum implementation which were: 

• Clear Strategy

• Infrastructure

• Dynamic Leadership

• Mobilizing Resources

Transforming Vision to Reality: Securing delivery

The Secretary General, Dr Sibtain Panjwani reported on the progress made to date by The World Federation on the objectives stated in the document that was launched at the 1st Executive Council of the World Federation on 27th January 2001. He commended the team at the secretariat for their determined effort. He emphasised to the attentive council that, while the document sets out a long-term programme for the community, it is also about reform.

- Reform to empower individual member
- Reform to break down demarcation
- Reform to free frontline workers

These reforms will allow a shift in the balance towards our frontline workers – Jamaat boards/committees - who will have power to meet the local community needs, always working within the context of clear policy guidelines and strong accountability framework. The World Federation Secretariat in consultation with the members will be expected to devolve greater responsibility to the boards and committees and to foster the growth of effective network across the World Federation membership.


Resettlement of our Somalia Community

Following an earlier focus group meeting between representatives of The World Federation, Africa Federation, Karachi Jamaat, Mehfile Murtaza and Zainabiyya Trust, it had been decided to implement this long running issue through the instrumentality of an international task force 
comprising of: 

The task force was charged with the responsibility of preparing feasibility of resettlement of the Mumineen from Somalia in Pakistan for the consideration of the Executive Council.


Plight of the Doctors of our community in Karachi

With deep anguish, The Executive Council learnt of the communal and sectarian killings, particularly targeting religious and community leaders, social workers and doctors, simply because they are Shia Muslims. By July 2001, seven more doctors were brutally murdered making a total of 70 doctors assassinated in the last 10 years. This is a terrible scourge upon Muslims generally and Shia Muslims particularly. The responsibility for upholding law and executing justice must finally rest with Pakistan Government. The Council conveyed its strong feeling that the government of Pakistan must apply the rule of law fairly and vigorously so that perpetrators of such crimes are brought to bear the full brunt of the law.

The President of the World Federation Al Haj Hasnain Walji, whilst attending the education convocation in Karachi where he was the special guest, specially met with the bereaved families and extended to them heartfelt sympathy and prayers for the years that lie ahead. May Allah (swt) sustain them and give them peace and health. Aameen


Mulla Asghar Memorial Fund

In April 2000, The Mulla Asghar Memorial Fund was launched. To date, we have received pledges of up to US$375,000. With the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Work now entering the final stages of permanent rehabilitation, efforts are now being refocused on the further collection for this fund. A proposal of projects envisaged, was distributed to the delegates by way of a leaflet.

Dr Ahmed Hassam, the Vice President of the World Federation, proposed the first project to be undertaken; the Mulla Asghar Memorial Campus in Bhavnagar, which would start with a nursery and primary schools and an IT Centre. A 7 acre site has been identified and donors have come forward to fund both the schools and the IT Centre. He proposed that the Executive Council approve this as a first project in tribute to Marhum Mulla Asghar and this was unanimously approved.


Youth and Senior Conventions

As part of the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the World Federation, various conventions are to be held internationally. Dr Ahmed Hassam briefed the delegates on the success of the Medical Convention organised by the World Federation Medical Advisory Board in New York on 20th May 2001 following the 2nd Executive Council Meeting.

The second convention planned under this programme is the Youth Convention, which is to be held in Dubai Inshallah on 29th December 2001. This will be during the Sports Festival, which is being jointly organised by the Africa Federation and Dubai Jamaat. The Managing Committee of the Dubai Jamaat have nominated a team headed by Al Haj Amir Gulamhussain, who will work together with the World Federation to finalise arrangements for the Youth Convention.

The Convention for the Seniors, is the third one, and is being proposed to be held in North America during May 2002 to coincide with the Executive Council Meeting. Dr Akber Mithani's paper on 'Improving Quality of Life and Enhancing Function for Seniors’ has provided an excellent platform for the planning of this Convention.


Youth networking desk

Al Haj Shafique Govani, an upcoming youth worker and member of the secretariat presented a perceptive paper on Youth Networking, its vision, aims and objectives and structure. To day, the community is spread out living under various kinds of environment that presents many opportunities and challenges, particularly in its spiritual growth. We must do our utmost to allow our youths to take up opportunity that are available and at the same time foster unity of purpose within them to overcome challenges and strengthen the faith. The World Federation has set up a Youth Networking Desk to carry this out, to build internal strength among the World Federation membership as well as work for the unity among Muslims. 

All in all, the well-attended meeting was yet another demonstration of the level of confidence the World Federation enjoys in the Community globally. The concept of having meetings in different venues accords tremendous opportunities for the secretariat team to network and understand the challenge faced by different regions. By the same token, it allows the grassroots in different regions to observe the World federation at work by attending the Executive Council meetings and the World Federation Evening ‘road show’. Judging from the diverse feedback both from New York and now in Dubai, Alhamdulillah the policy of rotating meetings is paying dividends.