Author: Mohsin Zaheer

Bio: Mohsin Zaheer is a Pakistani-American journalist and editor based in New York whose work spans two decades. He won the New York Community Media Alliance’s Ippies Award in 2009 and has been the beneficiary of numerous Pakistani-American awards. Zaheer joined Daily Khabrain, Lahore (the Urdu-language newspaper with the largest circulation in Pakistan) in 1989 as staff reporter, eventually becoming the Deputy Editor of Reporting. Zaheer moved to the U.S. in 1999 and joined the staff of Sada-e-Pakistan, an Urdu-language weekly, as Editor and set a new trend for Pakistani-American media by reporting on local issues and activities taking place in the U.S. He covered the 9/11 attacks, wide raging issues within the Pakistani-American community in a post 9/11 era, and the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan. Zaheer also launched the Pakistani American community's first online newspaper in 1996, “The Pakistani Newspaper” (www.pn.com.pk), and continues to contribute news stories and columns to Daily Khabrain, Lahore. Zaheer earned his Master degree in Political Science and History from the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan.

Contributions:

Bill Seeking Temporary Reprieve for Undocumented Pakistanis Died With 111th Congress

Posted on: 14 Jan 2011

The measure would have provided Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to undocumented Pakistanis after the country’s catastrophic floods last year.

‘I Am a Khan, I Am Not a Terrorist’ Say Pashtuns in New York

Posted on: 06 Jan 2011

Ethnic Pashtun immigrants can’t return home because they are considered too “American,” but in the U.S. they are profiled as terror suspects.

An Immigrant’s Story: Passing The Last Hurdle To Citizenship

Posted on: 03 Jan 2011

Mustansar Waheed, a Pakistani immigrant, was worried that he wouldn’t pass English-language and U.S. civics exams required to become a naturalized citizen. But with the help of a Brooklyn non-profit agency he made the grade.

Muslim Voters Face Difficult Choice in Tuesday’s Election

Posted on: 01 Nov 2010

The controversy over a proposed mosque and Muslim cultural center near ground zero has spurred new interest in politics among Muslim voters. But those in New York’s 13th Congressional District must choose between two opponents of the Park51 plan.

Park51 Controversy Leads to Political Engagement by Muslim New Yorkers

Posted on: 29 Oct 2010

The backlash against a proposed mosque and Islamic cultural center in lower Manhattan has spurred Muslims in New York to get involved in local politics.

NYC’s Pakistani Immigrant Community Removed from Local Political Process

Posted on: 14 Sep 2010

New York’s “Little Pakistan” was mostly ignored by the candidates and is largely unaware there’s an election happening today. What does it mean when an immigrant community does not participate in mainstream politics?