By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News &
Features Services)
The election process for
the two year term (2015-16) has started in the Sindhi Association of North
America (SANA), the social and cultural platform/organization of Sindhi
Diasporas living in USA and Canada.
An election commission
has already been constituted under the chair of the veteran Khalid Hashmani
with Sarfaraz Memon and Hasnain Shaikh have been appointed as its members with
Aleem Brohi and Ali Nawaz Memon being chosen as the alternative
members/observers.
In this regard, the
SANA's Executive Council met through conference call system while its
President, Jamil Daudi, chaired the meeting which reviewed and finalized the
decisions and arrangements for the upcoming elections.
In the meeting, General
Secretary, Noorunissa Ghanghro, presented a resolution to congratulate Dr
Khalil Memon chairman and all the members of local organizing committee of the
30th SANA Convention held at Chicag,o USA, on their dedicated
efforts and the wonderful arrangements to make the annual event a most
memorable one for its participants.
It may be recalled that
more than 800 delegates participated in the historic and record-breaking annual
gathering of Sindhi Diasporas which included prominent writers, poets,
intellectuals, politicians and civil society members from the world over.
The resolution lauded
the contribution of spouses and children of all the members of local
organization committee who also actively participated in arrangements.
The SANA EC, at the
demand of some members, reverted its decision to slash membership date from
September 15 to August 15.. President Jamil Daudi
regretted that this reversion will deprive those 350 people who had renewed
their membership in Chicago convention in the last couple of days of
August.
“This decision is
inevitable in the best interest of the SANA as all the seniors and presidents
of past have been taken onboard on this decision”, he added.
The President and
General Secretary hoped that the decision will strengthen diasporas platform
and those people will be countered who wanted to create division in this
organization. The meeting decided to scrutinize the membership claims
thoroughly and carefully so that free, fair and transparent elections are
ensured.
The EC constituted a
byelaws review committee comprising of Khalid Hashmani, Noorunissa Ghanghro, Dr
Valeed Shaikh, Khair Muhammad Kolachi and Dr Saghir Shaikh.
As per election
schedule, the nomination forms have already been issued by the chairman
election commission with September 15 being the last date submission forms
while October 15 is the last date for the withdrawal of candidarure.
The election commission
will issue the final list of eligible voters by October 21
whereafter voters will be mailed ballots by November 7
with December 17 being the deadline for returning of ballots.
The election commission
will announce the results by December 20 with the induction of newly
elected body due to take place on January 2, 2015.
