TERM 1997-2000
Secretary General's Report at Triennial Conference 2000
The Secretary General, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani, in his opening speech remembered the recently passed away President of The World Federation, Alhaj Mulla Asgar (Asgherali M. M. Jaffer). He said that today at this Conference, We are all united to pay our respect to Mulla Saheb.
Only now that he is gone do we truly appreciate his record of humanitarian services, generally, as well as to muslim communities internationally. Today is our chance to express our heartfelt appreciation for the way he occupied the office of the President that brought honour to this organization by the manner in which he filled his role far above any feelings of partisanship.
The Secretary General remembered other Marhumeen, such as Marhoom Alibhai M. Jaffer, Marhoom Haji Hussein Haji, Marhoom Jafferali Asil, Marhoom Haji Mohammed Javari, Marhoom Mohammed Raza Rashid, Marhoom Alhaj Nazirali Gulamhussein and few others who are no longer with us now.
Among the Ulema who are no longer with us this year, he remembered Maulana Zeeshan Haider. He was the founder member of Tanzeemul Makatib. He translated Nahjul Balagha, Mafatul Jinan and Tafser of Quran in Urdu. Maulana Karar Hussein, also one of the founder members of Tanzeemul Makatib, passed away this year.
Among those who also passed away were Ayatollah Sheikh Murtaza Buroujerdi, Ayatollah Mirza Ali Gharavi and Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al Sadr.
The Secretary General said that the community will remember this eventful term as the “Term of reminding and reflection” which saw many well-wishers, dedicated community workers and Ulema depart from this world. Triennial Conference 2000 London 8th (2) page 3
The Secretary General, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani, said that over a period of 24 years, The World Federation has evolved as a body serving not only its members but also Muslims from all over the world. Primary objective is to preserving our religious identity, eradication of poverty, illiteracy and poverty from within our community.
Responding to the appeal from the needy has to be done with care, courtesy and confidentiality, always conscious of the fact that all applicants receive due respect. Applications are received from many of parts of the world and they have to be heard patently and with empathy. Each application has to be dealt on its merit. Disbursement of Huquq monies will always remain an immense responsibility on the shoulders of those entrusted with the task of disposing.
In addition, the World Federation receives applications from throughout the world for emergency due to natural disaster or war, capital projects, ZCSS projects, MAB projects and Aalim grants.
The World Federation is a global institution and its secretariat is a hub around which the whole wheel of the World Federation rotates. It has over 40 people from many parts of the world who continuously give their time to the World Federation without charging a penny.
They range from those who visit each and every patient who comes for medical assistance to the United Kingdom via the World Federation, to those who continuously visit towns and cities for the new ZCSS sponsor parents. Then there are representative who assist the Secretariat who are based in Australia, Canada, USA, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, France, Kenya and Tanzania.
The volunteers, together with the staff at the permanent Secretariat keep the World Federation running continuously throughout the year. But this is not enough. The World Federation has the community numbering over 100,000, now settled in many parts of the World. They replicated mainly African experience in almost all places and formed Jamaats and later on to forming regional federations. It is from these institutions that the WF receives solid support and backing. WF’s strength as a community is its ability to raise and generate funds whenever required in the name of our faith.
Finally, the Secretary General said that it’s his privilege to present the report for the term October 1997 to October 2000.
