Masood Khan honoured with Dr Martin Luther King Legacy Award

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan was honoured on Sunday with Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award for Diplomacy and International Service’ in recognition of his commitment, leadership and service.

The award, named after the leader of the American civil rights movement in the mid-50s, was conferred on the Pakistani envoy at the 31st International Salute to the Life and Legacy of the late Dr King, convened by Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine (IAMMM).

The ceremony, held ay Willard InterContinental Washington DC, was attended by more than 150 guests, including US lawmakers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, community leaders and educationists from Washington and across the United States, according to a Pakistani embassy’s press release.

The coveted award is conferred annually as part of the commemorative celebrations in honour of the late Dr King’s birthday, which is celebrated on January 15.

Ambassador Masood was also nominated as the Honorary Chairman of Martin Luther King International Salute.

Other recipients of the Martin Luther King Legacy award this year were: Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland; John Wobensmith, Maryland’s Secretary of State, Richard Shadyac, President and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Shanel McGoy, Senior Director in Public Affairs, Corporate Citizenship Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Thanking IAMMM for the award, Ambassador Masood said that he was honoured to be associated with the iconic figure of Dr Martin Luther King and his mission.

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“When you honour me, in fact, you are honouring Pakistan and its people,” he said.

He also thanked Madeline Lawson, President and CEO of MLK, Jr. International Salute, for her initiative to revive the great event after the coronavirus pandemic, to celebrate the life and work of Dr King. “By associating the diplomatic corps with the Salute, you reach out to all nations and peoples of the world.”

Earlier, in his opening address, Ambassador Masood paid a glowing tribute to the great US leader who fought repression and depravity to uphold respect for diversity and human dignity.

“His legacy can be summed up in three words: freedom, equality, and justice, for all. It provides a template for combating, anywhere in the world, inequality and discrimination on the basis of race, colour, creed, gender, ethnicity and nationality.

“On this day, let’s not forget the people being consumed by the fury of unjust wars and illegal occupation,” he added.

Ambassador Masood said that the vision of Dr King continued to inspire world leaders, lawmakers and human rights activists and defenders.

Referring to the 1969 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ((CERD), he said that Dr King’s strong advocacy for racial equality influenced legislation at the United Nations expanding the body of international law that promotes and protects universal rights of all.

“His struggle spurred anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and helped hasten the demise of colonialism,” he continued.

“Like other nations, Pakistan has also been inspired by Dr King. Personally, for me and other diplomats he has been a lodestar for fulfilling our shared obligations to promote civil liberties and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

Referring to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), made 15 centuries ago, that a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white – except by piety and good deeds, Ambassador Masood said that the saying was so compellingly echoed in Dr King’s declaration in 1963 that all people should be judged not “by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Masood said that in line with the vision of the great US leader, we should work together for the eradication of poverty and climate justice worldwide.

“On this day, let’s not forget the poor populations that seek attention and help,” he emphasised.

Speaking on the occasion, the Karachi-born US Senator Chris Van Hollen said that “we all have a responsibility to do our very best to stand up for human rights and justice.

“Not only when it’s politically convenient, but across the globe, applying those standards, not just to our foes but also to our friends,” he said.

Referring to the recent floods in Pakistan, Senator Hollen said it was important that the United States and other countries that had been primarily responsible for the release of carbon emissions and climate change do their best to address the inequities and harm imposed on countries that contribute very low.

Ambassador Masood thanked Senator Chris and said that Pakistan was striving to get recognition for climate justice, not just for Pakistan but for all vulnerable countries around the globe.