ISLAMABAD: United States Vice President Kamala Harris has urged people to “understand the power of their vote” while speaking at a ceremony organized by Pakistani-Americans, reported Geo News on Saturday, as the US gears up for a close presidential contest in November.
The race to the office of the head of the state features incumbent President Joe Biden facing off against Donald Trump amid a highly polarized political climate.
The Biden administration’s popularity has waned, particularly due to its stance on Israel’s war on Gaza, leading to significant disenchantment within his own party base, with some supporters distancing themselves from his policies.
Adding to the administration’s challenges, Biden’s recent performance in a presidential debate against Trump was widely criticized, marking another setback in his campaign efforts.
“We are going to win. It’s not going to be easy but we are going to win,” Harris told the gathering of around 50 people co-hosted by Dr. Asif Mahmood and business tycoon Tanweer Ahmad in Bradbury, California.
“In this election, we will determine what kind of country we want and we will make a statement about who we are as a country,” she continued. “I hope everyone must understand the power of their vote and that their vote being an extension of their voice in weighing in what kind of country we want to live in.”
Harris highlighted Trump’s anti-immigrant policies at the occasion and steps taken by Biden to “uplift the middle class.”
She said Trump only cared about himself and sought personal gains.
“The fundamental thing is freedom and liberty,” she added. “We are talking about freedom from hate and bigotry in a world where these extremists are intentionally trying to divide our country by spewing hate.”
Pakistani-Americans have made significant contributions to their adopted country, excelling in various fields such as technology, medicine, academia and business, thereby enriching the American cultural and economic fabric.
Politically active across the spectrum, they are involved in various advocacy and community initiatives, supporting diverse causes and candidates that span the breadth of American political discourse, reflecting their varied perspectives and commitment to civic engagement.
Vice President Harris encourages voter awareness at Pakistani-American event as US election nears
https://arab.news/pt9hn
Vice President Harris encourages voter awareness at Pakistani-American event as US election nears
- Kamala Harris recognizes the contest will not be easy, though she expresses optimism that Biden will ultimately win
- She says the presidential election in November will determine what kind of a country the United States wants to be
PM Sharif pins hopes on Trump-led peace board to help end Gaza war
- Pakistan says new body should push ceasefire, reconstruction and two-state solution
- Sharif thanks Kazakh president for joining peace initiative during Islamabad visit
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism on Wednesday US President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace (BoP) would help end the conflict in Gaza and advance the implementation of a two-state solution, as he addressed a ceremony at his official residence in the capital.
The Board of Peace brings together participating states and international stakeholders seeking to support dialogue, stability and peace-related initiatives linked to the war in the Palestinian enclave.
Sharif signed the body’s charter last month alongside other world leaders on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, a move his government later described as a diplomatic success amid opposition criticism for not taking parliament into confidence.
Speaking at a ceremony to sign more than 30 memoranda of understanding with Kazakhstan, also a Board of Peace member, Sharif thanked President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for accepting his invitation to visit Pakistan for bilateral talks.
“I would ... like to congratulate you on accepting this invitation, being a member of the Board of Peace under President Trump’s leadership,” Sharif said.
“Let us hope and pray to Allah Almighty that through our joint efforts, we will be successful in bringing long-lasting peace in Gaza, its reconstruction, and, of course, make the two-state solution a reality as soon as possible,” he added.
Pakistan told the United Nations in January that it expected the new international body to take concrete steps toward a permanent ceasefire, the reconstruction of Gaza and a lasting and just peace grounded in the Palestinian right to statehood.
It maintained that its decision to join the Board of Peace was driven by the need to address the unresolved Palestinian question, which it has described as the core source of instability in the region.
Pakistan has consistently called for the establishment of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
