Saggy Tahir

Tahir was born in British Raj India, at New Delhi. In 1972 he emigrated to the United States from Lahore, Pakistan, "with about $100 to his name." After coming to America Tahir "worked a variety of jobs, mostly in the construction field and invested in rental properties." Tahir is believed to be the first Pakistani native to be elected to a state legislature anywhere in the United States. Tahir is the first Muslim-American elected to a political position in the United States of America. ==Government service==

In 1998 Tahir was challenged by his son "to give back to the community by running for State legislator". One of the focuses of his campaign was his commitment "to providing the highest education to our children so that they can compete here at home and abroad." ==Advocacy groups==

: (see also support of ARK below.) Tahir is active in many advocacy groups concerning both Pakistani-Americans and American-Muslims. He believes it to be both a religious obligation and a civic duty. "That's exactly what I am trying to remind my fellow American Muslims. God does not say you give back to the Muslims only. He says give back to my people. All people in the universe are his people, regardless of what religion they follow." He was a lead speaker at AMA's March 31, 2001 East Regional Leadership Training Conference in Westborough, Massachusetts. After the Sept. 11th attacks, Tahir attended the Oct. 2001, 6th annual AMA national convention in San Jose, California, where he was a key speaker. The usually unnoticed convention of "about 500 Muslims at the Wyndham Garden Hotel" received a different treatment this time. "Police officers patrolled the hotel's lobby and front entrance, reporters from national and regional media roamed the convention eager to learn how Muslim-Americans have been reacting to both the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the ensuing race-motivated backlash against them." While attending the convention Tahir also attended a peace rally held in César Chávez Park. At the rally he was interviewed by Brad Williams of WB20, Channel 11. He told the reporter that "We are Americans first." Asked on the American strikes into Afghanistan, Tahir replied, "Pakistan don't want a neighbor to the north that is an enemy. Foreign policy starts with your neighbor." On October 5, 2002, at the AMA's 7th national convention, Tahir was on a panel called "Muslims in Politics: Success Stories". Also on the panel were Yaphett El-Amin (then Assemblywomen-Elect) and Dr. M. Ali Chaudry, a Township Committee Member. On April 17, 2004, Tahir was the chief guest speaker for the Pakistan American Association of Southern New England (PAASNE). On June 23, 2005, Tahir was on a panel hosted by the Islamic Center of New England to discuss the work of Imam Dr. Talal Eid, Th. D., and his paper on "Marriage, Divorce and Child Custody As Experienced By American Muslims: Religious, Social and Legal Considerations", with a special focus on reflecting "on the issues concerning Muslim women in America." Prayer Hall Food Pantry Tahir maintains that helping the needy is not charity but a duty demanded by Islam. "From birth to death there are thousands of human needs. Most are fulfilled by education and employment. Everyone should do whatever he/she can. It is not a charity. It our duty and the right of those who do not have. It is Islam." In accord with these beliefs he has made it an annual tradition to donate turkeys to the Prayer Hall Hooksett food bank (where he serves on the board of directors) to provide meals for 400 residents in Manchester, Hooksett and Auburn. Honors On May 19, 2001, at Gaithersburg, Maryland, the Pakistan Association of Greater Washington (a group that "focuses on issues facing the Pakistani-American Community, specially relating to our first immigrant generation") honored Tahir with a Community Achievement Award for his accomplishments. The Lt. Governor of Maryland, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, sent a message in recognition of Tahir's accomplishments. "You stand as a role model and symbol of encouragement to everyone to never stop short of reaching our goals. Your leadership and vision are a tremendous asset to the continued growth and achievement of the Pakistan community." Masood Khan, the Political Counselor of the Pakistan Embassy, attended to represent his ambassador. In March 2004, Tahir was honored by the Pakistani American Congress (PAC), "an umbrella organization of 57 nationwide Pakistani groups", as one of the Pakistani Americans who "fought many odds to lead America towards a 'more perfect democracy'." He gave a speech documenting his "struggles and road to success" after receiving the award. Criticism After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Pakistan American Association of North America (PAANA) condemned the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) led by Tahir. In December 2001, they maintained that the OPF's statement that "Pakistanis are not discriminated in US, nor being harassed by the law-enforcement agencies, or threatened by the locals", was false. They "pointed out that after Sept. 11, one Pakistani citizen was murdered last month in Dallas, Texas, a former Pakistani journalist was beaten in New York City, one Pakistani student was beaten in the INS Deportation Cell in the presence of INS officials, several other beating cases were reported from other parts of the United States. More than 165 Pakistanis were arrested by the FBI on suspicion of connection with WTC attack, most of them were shifted to INS in violation of the law." They stressed that Tahir "does not represent the Pakistani community in the United States". ==Delegation to Pakistan==

As a Muslim Pakistani-American elected official, Tahir has been working to strengthen understanding between Americans of all backgrounds, and "Since September 11th Pakistanis in the USA have been working very hard to educate non-Muslims about Islam, Jihad, Pakistan and also Afghanistan." After the attacks of September 11, 2001 Tahir "felt compelled to try to ease the tension between the two countries" of Pakistan and the USA. Tahir has long maintained that the example of co-existence in the US could help end factionalism in Pakistan, "If all the religions and communities of the world can live and prosper in USA, why can't we do it in Pakistan? It is real Islam." On November 16, 2001, after discussing the idea with the US State Department (who were not only supportive but offered financial assistance) Tahir lead a delegation to Pakistan "to promote better understanding between Pakistan and the United States of America." The central points of the trip were to promote the idea that "Pakistan's future development relies heavily on foreign investment, especially from the United States and the European Union", "to establish better awareness between the people of Pakistan and the USA", and "to inform Pakistanis that are many Americans who support fair policies towards Muslim nations." Tahir's press release stated that he "feels that American citizens should know that the people in Pakistan care for them equally" and that he believed that "there are tremendous mis-impressions regarding how Pakistanis view Americans and vice versa." Which "has resulted in lack of trust and confidence between the two peoples." The delegation visited Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta. Press conferences were held with the local media with the facilitation of the US Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC. The Pakistani Government also offered financial assistance, but both their and the State Dept.'s offers were politely declined and the mission was self-funded by the delegation. Tahir's personal goals for the delegation was to combat the sentiments in Pakistan that led some Pakistanis to burn American flags before the media. He held this "can only infuriate Americans all over the world. This type of behavior does not promote the investments that can create jobs and lead to progress." He hoped the delegation could "turn sentiments around as both Pakistan and the United States are now at the threshold of establishing a more durable and lasting relationship." Other members of the delegation were Agha M. Afzal Khan, Khalil-Ur-Reman (Chief Editor of Urdu Times, Awam and Pakistan Abroad), Vakil Ansari Writer/columnist and Co-Chief Editor of "Pakistan Abroad", Asad Abidi (Gov't Hospital, New Jersey), Naseem Akhtar and Masrur Javed Khan (Physicians). ==Kashmir delegation==

Tahir "visits Kashmir almost every year". When N.H. State House Deputy Majority Leader Robert Giuda (R-Warren) learned of this he asked if Tahir would bring back some "beautiful shawls and sweaters" for him. Tahir later recalled that "I asked him if that was all he knew about Kashmir, and he said, 'Yeah, what else?' I said, 'Do you know there are hundreds of millions of people in India and Pakistan and Kashmir suffering from the senselessness of both governments purchasing weapons for this and that?' and then he got interested to know more." They applied for visas and were "the first U.S. civilians in 12 years to be allowed by the Pakistani military to visit the Line of Control between India and Pakistan." Giuda was so moved by the experience that he authored a concurrent resolution in the New Hampshire State House (HCR 16) urging "the United States to facilitate a just, peaceful, and rapid resolution to the Kashmiri conflict between India and Pakistan; to bring a cessation of atrocities against the people of Jammu and Kashmir; and, as a result, to reduce the threat of nuclear war in Southwest Asia." The bill passed the NH State House with great support by voice vote, and passed unanimously in the State Senate by unanimous voice vote on February 20, 2003. The resolution was delivered to President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, and the New Hampshire Congressmen and Senators in Washington, D.C. Tahir stated "It is in the best interest of the United States and its people to bring the Kashmir resolution to bear, because too many people in that continent are being deprived of food, clothing, health care and housing. Peace has to prevail. After 55 years of conflict, enough is enough." The Tahir delegation returned to Kashmir again in February 2003 with a larger NH delegation and a television reporter. They returned to the Line-of-Control "meeting with everyone from victims of artillery barrages, gang rape, and forced amputation to refugees, orphans, shop-keepers, families, school children, military authorities, and national leaders." Giuda went on to form Americans for Resolution of Kashmir (ARK) a non-profit organization which was "organized exclusively to conduct, organize, educate, and publicize all issues attendant to the Kashmiri conflict, its impact on the Kashmiri people, and its importance to global peace and the security of the United States of America." Tahir has given his time and support to ARK. Supporters of India mentioned Tahir in their rebuttals of Giuda's allegations. ==Earthquake relief==

Since the 2005 Pakistan earthquake "Tahir has been raising money for the Pakistan earthquake victims. He also will lead a delegation to rebuild a destroyed school." ==Karatzas mosque controversy==

Residents near the construction site of a new mosque in Manchester built by The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester fought the building of a mosque in court (the judge ruled for the mosque). Then residents near the construction site called "for the strict enforcement of on-street parking bans" against the volunteer construction workers vehicles. They sent their aldermen a petition demanding "parking remain prohibited on both sides of the road." Tahir stated his opinion that "This is harassment." He likened it to discrimination movements of the past "It happened with the Jews. It happened with the Irish." The residents of Karatzas Avenue said "We're not making this a mosque issue. We're making this a no parking issue." The construction manager claimed that they only parked "two or three cars on the street when they can't be accommodated elsewhere" and that "only a handful of cars drive on Karatzas Avenue each day, making parking a minor issue." ==Republican Party==

Tahir joins U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), U.S. Rep André Carson (D-IN), State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad (D-IA), State Del. Saqib Ali (D-MD); and State Senator Larry Shaw (D-NC) as the only elected Muslim officials in the United States of America as of 2006. A former Manchester party chairman said that among the reasons Tahir's campaign was greeted by Republicans was for "the potential he has to draw minorities to the party." Soon after taking office Tahir was made head of the Manchester Republican City Committee. Tahir pledged that the Manchester Republicans would not focus on partisanship and instead concentrate on "issues such as taxes, the senior center and schools". He told a reporter, "These are the things the people are interested in; it's not a fight between two neighbors." In 2002 Tahir stepped down and Ed Mosca became the head of the Manchester Republican Committee. Tahir has been worried about the perception American-Muslims in general have had for his party for some time. Before the 2004 elections, Tahir told the BBC that he was worried that Republicans could be losing the Muslim-American vote. He explained "I am concerned about the backlash by the American Muslim community. But I believe the Republican Party will try to mend fences and make sure they don't desert the party." This worry appears to have been justified as "According to (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) CAIR 78% of Muslims voted Republican in 2000...because many American Muslims say they share the same social values as the Republicans." ==Quotes==

• "I could not thank those heroes enough for what they have done for this nation. I wish I had met them in person so I could have said how grateful I am for their sacrifices to give me this land of opportunity." - His comments after a visit to Arlington National Cemetery • "We all know that U.S. senators, congressmen and the president enjoy the best healthcare in the world. Do we ever think for a moment who made it possible? We owe older Americans a lot, and it's our seniors who worked hard to give us the most powerful country in the world." ==Personal==

He is married to Nusrat Tahir and they have three children Misbah, Adeel, and their daughter Sanam (who was born in 1989). Tahir died at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH on Oct. 16, 2013 due to natural causes. ==Electoral results==

• 2006 Race for Hillsborough District #9 Three to be elected. • 2006 GOP Primary Results: (Dist. 9/Ward 2) :: • 2004 Results: (Dist. 9/Ward 2) :: • 2002 Results: (Dist. 50/Wards 2, 3, 10, 11) :: • 2000 Results: (Dist. 38/Ward 2) :: • 1998 GOP Primary Results • Tahir ==External links==