KARACHI, Aug 25: A new organization has been formed to allay misconceptions and misunderstandings between the peoples of the United States and Pakistan, said the organization’s convener who is a Pakistani lawyer settled in America.

The Pak-American Solidarity Society (PASS) convener, for both the countries, Mehar Hussain Shah, while launching the PASS at a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Sunday, said the Society would work for strengthening relations between the peoples of the two countries.

He said the Sept 11 incident was an act of diabolic terrorism that claimed over 3,000 innocent lives and destroyed property worth billions of dollars. He said it was a colossal tragedy not only for the Americans but also for the Pakistanis, for the latter’s proximity to Afghanistan, whose Taliban rulers were accused of supporting the terrorists.

He said there were a number of misconceptions in both the countries about each other which had spawned such brutal and reprehensible acts as bombings on churches and the US consulate as well as killing of American and French citizens in Pakistan and an acute sense of insecurity among Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular in the USA.

Mr Shah said the Society would work through conferences, seminars, public meetings, educational programmes, performing arts, exhibitions, researches, and exchange of goodwill delegations etc., as well as interaction with the like-minded organizations of both the countries for promotion of friendship, peace, harmony, religious tolerance, better understanding and pluralism between the two peoples.

Mr Shah said the PASS was mindful of problems being faced by students, visitors, businessmen and other Pakistanis in the USA.

Besides, he added, the Society would work for promotion of human rights, democracy, market economy and good governance at all tiers of state functionaries to ensure effective accountability; promote principles of gender justice, equality, increase of women’s viability and role in public life; to strive for social justice, peaceful and environment-friendly universal society; promote rights of the indigenous cultures in consonance with the UN charter, facilitate joint economic ventures between the two countries for promotion of social and economic well-being of its people.

He said at present he was the only PASS representative in the USA, but soon membership would be opened there and all Americans, who not necessarily would be of Pakistani origin, could become its members.

He said Noor Naz Agha would be the organization’s secretary for Pakistan, while secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association Sahibzada Anwer Hamid would be convener for Punjab. Other conveners are: Syed Ghulam Shah (Sindh); Mukhtar Bacha (NWFP); and Manzoor Gichki (Balochistan).