The Pakistan India & UK Friendship Forum honour Dr. Lord Khalid Hameed CBE, DL for his elevation to the House of Lords. The special dinner at the Hotel Rembrandt , Knightsbridge, London was attended by 200 guests and dignitaries including former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve, Baroness Verma, Lord John Taylor of Holbeach CBE, Lord Sheikh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Tarique Ghaffur ,industrialist Mr. George Jatania, president of Sikh Forum Ranjit Singh, editor of the Asian Who’s Who Mr J S Sachar, editor of the Daily Jung Mr. Sahoor Niazi, Mr Muzaffar Chowdry to name a few.

Lord Hameed was presented with a special diversity award for his contribution to inter- faith dialogue and religious tolerance by Lord Goldsmith. Lord Goldsmith praised the work being done by the Friendship Forum in bringing two British communities closer to one another. He also paid tribute to Lord Hameed for his outstanding contribution to the nation.

Lord Hameed was very appreciative of the honour as it was given to him by his own people. He also said that he could not understand when people became angry with their own country for any reason they choose to use bombs to register their protest instead of the ballot box.

Dr. Rami Ranger Chairman of the Forum described it as a unique occasion where people of Indian & Pakistani origin had joined hands in paying tribute to a person for his success. He said, “Normally we do not see eye to eye, let alone get together for a common celebration. It just shows how our attitudes have changed since 16th August 2007 when we celebrated the Independence days of India & Pakistan jointly for the first time ever anywhere in the world. When relations between India and Pakistan cool down, we will also see a slow down in global warming “.

Baroness Verma also paid tribute to Lord Hameed and looked forward to working with him in the House of Lords. Dominic Grieve MP made a point of saying that Lord Hameed was the first appointed Asian Sheriff of Greater London who discharged his duties with the utmost of integrity and dedication. Lord John Taylor of Holbeach said that Lord Hameed’s presence in the Lords would make the House stronger. Muzaffar Chowdry, Chairman of the UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce said that friendship between the two communities was now irreversible. He was also encouraged to see the way in which relations between India and Pakistan were improving and this was bound to influence our relations in this country.

The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Ahmed Shahzad, the former Mayor of Brent, The National Chairman of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities Society UK and Hononary Investment Councilor Pakistan for London. He thanked the guests and the guests of Honour for making the evening a memorable one. He also thanked the Committee of the Pakistan, India & UK Friendship Forum for building bridges between two British Comminutes.