Pakistani becomes member of US body on religious freedom

WASHINGTON: Noted Pakistani-American Dr Asif Mahmood has been appointed as a new member, otherwise designated as commissioner, of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Dr Mahmood, who’s a physician by profession and a philanthropist, was appointed to USCIRF by the US House Minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, according to the Commission’s website. Dr Mahmodd was a Delegate for the Democratic National Convention from 2008 to 2016 and held many roles in presidential campaigns. He is currently the Chair of the Organization for Social Media Safety and Board member of Hope the Mission, one of the largest homeless shelters in California. Before him, a Gold Star father Khizr Khan also served on the Commission from August 2021 to May 2022. The Commission is an independent, bipartisan government agency which issues policy guidelines and also serves as a watchdog.