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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Cultural fusion: Malayali by heart, Pakistani by passport
They speak Malayalam, savour pathiri, and cheer for Mohanlal. They belong to Pakistan yet are tethered to Kerala by memory and longing. Amid the ebb and flow of India-Pakistan relations, the resilient Malayali Muslim community in Pakistan stands as a testament to enduring cultural ties. Descendants of migrants from Kerala, the Malayalis in Karachi have preserved their language, traditions and cuisine for over a century, yet are an integral part of Pakistani society today. Mehmood Ali, a garment factory owner in Karachi's bustling Lea Market, embodies this legacy. Video-calling from his factory, he smiled: 'You called me from my grandfather's homeland. How could I not show you around?' He panned his phone across a well-lit workspace where workers crafted premium garments for export. His grandparents migrated from Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram around 1916, along with 10 to 15 other Malayali families. 'They brought their language, food, and customs,' Mehmood said. As their businesses flourished, more families from Kerala joined, expanding the community. Today, about 5,000 to 6,000 Malayalis live in Karachi, with a few in Islamabad and Lahore. In 1921, they founded the Malabar Muslim Jamaat (MMJ), one of Pakistan's oldest functioning Jamaats, anchoring cultural and social life. Speaking to Mehmood, what stands out isn't just the historical anecdotes—it's the unapologetic Malayali identity he carries. Born in Karachi, and having visited India only once (Mumbai, 1988), his Malayalam is impressively fluent. I thought I'd have to switch to English. But Mehmood's command of Malayalam surpassed that of many native speakers. He learned it from his parents and MMJ events. But it's more difficult now. 'After visa rules tightened in the late '80s, no one from Kerala could come here to teach. Today, we rely on YouTube and online lectures.' Still, the spirit endures. His children, fourth-generation Karachi-born, understand enough Malayalam to follow conversations at family gatherings. Balancing identities, the community celebrates Pakistan's Independence Day with cultural programmes and cricket tournaments. 'We are proud Pakistanis,' says Mehmood, now MMJ president. 'But our cultural spine is rooted in Kerala.' Yet, all is not rosy. Once thriving in Karachi's food scene with spicy eateries and tea joints, the community's presence has faded. Pashtun and Urdu-speaking migrants from post-Partition India brought their own cuisines, and Malabari establishments gradually declined. 'There was a time when you couldn't walk through Saddar or Lyari without spotting a Malabari hotel,' says Abdul Latif, whose grandparents came from Vadakara. He now runs a general store in Gizri. 'Today, only a few remain. One is Joona Masjid Hotel in Lyari, serving fish curry and parotta with nostalgic defiance.' Latif, speaking in a North Malabar dialect, last visited Kerala in 2001 at age 16. Now 40, he still hopes to return. 'Recent India-Pakistan tensions had a strange fallout,' he laughs. 'My wife and I were removed from our family WhatsApp group in Kerala!' 'They said it was too sensitive to include us.' He is also passionate about snacks. 'Relatives in the Gulf bring banana chips from Kerala. In return, they want Karachi's tooth powder and bubble gum.' He stays updated too. 'I watched the Eranjoli Bridge inauguration online and asked my cousins about traffic jams in Thalassery.' Among the last cultural outposts is Joona Masjid Hotel, locally known as the Malabari Hotel, run by Abdul Rasheed Malabari. His grandparents migrated from Thalassery via Bombay in 1918. The hotel, now 80 years old, has been run by Rasheed for 15 years. At 60, Rasheed speaks fluent Malayalam. He's visited Kerala four times, last in 1986. 'In childhood, many Malayali families lived here. But many returned to Kerala or moved to the Gulf. Now, few remain.' His hotel, still busy at lunch, serves fish curry, kallummakkaya (muzzles), irachi pathiri, and puttu—dishes prepared with recipes passed down through generations. 'Our food reminds people of home. That's why we're still here.' Rasheed, who married off three daughters and one son within the Malayali community, hopes to visit Kerala again. 'But with tensions between the countries, it seems unlikely. I can only hope.' Despite changes around him, Rasheed clings to Malayalam films and comedy shows. 'I'm not into politics. But Mohanlal and Mammootty—we still adore them.' Malayalam cinema helps preserve the language. 'There's charm in hearing our language, even if we've never seen those places.' What's remarkable isn't just that Malayalis live in Pakistan—but how. In a region divided by politics, this community lives in the grey: rooted in a homeland they've never seen, yet loyal to the one they call home. They don't ask for repatriation or special status—only connection. They want visas, not for business but for sentiments. To walk the streets their grandparents spoke of, offer prayers in old mosques, smell banana or jackfruit chips frying fresh. Senior Pakistani journalist Faiz Paracha captures the essence of their place in the nation's mosaic best: 'The Malayali community is a shining example of how cultural roots and national identity can coexist. Their dedication to language and heritage, while embracing their role as Pakistanis, adds depth to our multicultural identity. In a divided world, they quietly remind us that unity does not demand uniformity.' The Jamaat remains the community's heart—organising language classes, welfare programmes and cultural events. For many, it is the closest they'll get to Kerala. 'Even though we're here, our roots are there,' Mehmood reflects. 'It's not about nationalism. It's about belonging.' He dreams of taking his children to Kerala. 'Not as tourists, but as family. To show them backwaters, temples and mosques. That would be enough.' Let this be the story we tell—not of borders, but of bridges. Not of what separates us, but of what endures, he says. (With reporting assistance from senior Pakistani journalists Faiz Paracha and Khuldune Shahid) Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEA Diversion in Cannabis Chaos: MMJ Urges Terrance Cole, President Trump DEA Nominee to Dismantle Biden Era Cannabis Obstructors
Message to President Trump's Appointee: Terrance Cole Must Act on Cannabis Scientific Reform. "Mr. Cole has a historic opportunity to lead with integrity, science, and constitutional fidelity," said Boise. "He must put an end to this unlawful administrative hearing, root out DEA institutional marijuana bias, and restore lawful science-based regulatory practices." WASHINGTON, DC / / May 4, 2025 / MMJ BioPharma Cultivation announced it will file an emergency motion and lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island following a controversial ruling by DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Teresa Wallbaum. Judge Wallbaum recently issued a ruling to vacate a previously granted stay-clearing the path for a DEA ALJ hearing before what MMJ asserts is a constitutionally defective tribunal. Judge Wallbaum retired immediately after issuing the ruling. The company's forthcoming legal action seeks to block the DEA's internal administrative hearing process, which MMJ argues violates the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Axon Enterprise, Inc. v. FTC, and inflicts irreparable harm on its constitutional rights and medical mission. MMJ Direct Challenge to DEA Overreach The Axon decision, issued by the Supreme Court in 2023, affirmed that entities subject to unconstitutional agency proceedings can challenge them in federal court before being forced through the flawed administrative process. MMJ contends that the DEA's ALJ system, where judges are insulated from presidential oversight, runs afoul of Article II of the Constitution. "We are not just challenging DEA policy; we are defending the rule of law," said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation. "The DEA cannot ignore Supreme Court precedent and funnel applicants into hearings that are constitutionally invalid." From Regulatory Delay to Constitutional Injury MMJ's application to grow pharmaceutical-grade marijuana for FDA-sanctioned clinical trials was filed in 2018. Since then, the company has: Built and passed inspection of a DEA-compliant facility Received a DEA Schedule I analytical registration Filed two FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) applications Been awarded FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Huntington's Disease Despite these milestones and the 60-day processing deadline set by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (MCREA), MMJ has waited over 2,300 days. "The damage done by these delays is not just procedural-it's personal," Boise added. "Patients living with Huntington's and MS deserve answers and access, not bureaucratic purgatory." Biden's Failed Cast of Characters: Milgram, Garland, Thomas Prevoznik, Matthew Strait For years, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and the broader Biden administration have stood idle-overseeing a federal agency that continues to delay and deny legitimate medical cannabis research. Despite bipartisan legislation and judicial precedent, no meaningful reform has occurred. "The Biden administration had every opportunity to fix this. Instead, they turned a blind eye to patients and the Constitution," said Boise. Message to President Trump's Appointee: Terrance Cole Must Act Now, all eyes turn to Terrance Cole, President Trump's nominee for DEA Administrator, who MMJ urges to dismantle the obstructionist legacy left behind by the Biden-era leadership. "Mr. Cole has a historic opportunity to lead with integrity, science, and constitutional fidelity," said Boise. "He must put an end to this unlawful administrative hearing, root out DEA institutional bias, and restore lawful science-based regulatory practices." MMJ emphasized that Cole's leadership can mark a turning point: not just for the agency, but for tens of thousands of patients across the country. "This is about reclaiming the DEA from the grip of politics and putting patients first," Boise added. "Terrance Cole can either reform the agency-or risk continuing the shameful legacy of his predecessors." Federal Court Relief Sought MMJ's legal filing will request: A preliminary and permanent injunction halting the ALJ proceeding A declaration that the DEA's ALJ process violates the Constitution Expedited federal review in accordance with the Axon precedent "We are not seeking special treatment," Boise concluded. "We are demanding a fair, lawful process-something every American is entitled to. The DEA must be held accountable." MMJ is Represented by Attorney Megan Sheahan and Associates CONTACT:Madison Hiseymhisey@ SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
DEA Unconstitutional Marijuana Hearing - MMJ to File Emergency Injunction and Suit for Irreparable Harm
'We are not just challenging DEA policy, we are defending the Constitution said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation. The DEA cannot sidestep Supreme Court precedent and force us into a hearing. The agency is running a closed loop of power, Boise added, they investigate, prosecute, judge and override all in-house. That's not justice, that's a rigged game.' WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / May 1, 2025 / MMJ BioPharma Cultivation announced today that it will file for an emergency motion for injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island following a controversial ruling by a DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to vacate a previously granted stay, thereby green lighting a hearing before a DEA constitutionally flawed tribunal. The company's forthcoming lawsuit will seek to block the DEA's administrative hearing process, which MMJ contends violates the Supreme Court's ruling in Axon Enterprise, Inc. v. FTC, and represents irreparable harm to its constitutional rights. Axon and the Constitutional Crisis The Axon decision, handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023, established that federal courts may hear structural constitutional challenges to administrative agencies without requiring parties to exhaust agency proceedings first. MMJ argues that the DEA's internal administrative process-led by ALJs who are unconstitutionally insulated from presidential removal-defies this ruling. 'We are not just challenging policy; we are defending the Constitution,' said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation. 'The DEA cannot sidestep Supreme Court precedent and force us into a hearing that, by their own partial admission, is unconstitutional.' From Delay to Damage MMJ has been seeking DEA approval since 2018 to manufacture pharmaceutical-grade cannabis for FDA clinical trials aimed at treating Huntington's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Despite: ...MMJ has waited more than 2,300 days, well beyond the 60-day review period mandated by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (MCREA). Now, with the DEA insisting on proceeding with a hearing before an ALJ system MMJ contends is structurally unconstitutional, the company is seeking judicial intervention to prevent what it sees as an 'illegal and biased process.' Alleged Irreparable Harm The emergency injunction will argue that forcing MMJ to participate in this proceeding now would cause: 'This is a direct threat to the right of every American business to a fair process under the law,' Boise added. 'We will not submit to an unconstitutional tribunal.' What's Next MMJ's legal team plans to file the emergency motion and accompanying complaint in the coming days. The action seeks: MMJ's leadership emphasized that this fight is not just about one company-but about accountability at the highest levels of government. 'We are going to federal court to say enough is enough,' said Boise. 'It's time the DEA follows the law-not rewrites it.' MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey [email protected] 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings press release
Associated Press
20-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
DEA MARIJUANA SCAM: As DEA Cannabis Program Implodes This 4/20, MMJ Stands Alone in Pursuit of Real Medicine
MMJ's DEA lawsuit continues moving through the federal courts. The 8 organizations who have been issued DEA federal cannabis registrations since 2021, all are incapable of growing pharmaceutical-grade marijuana and 7 are now either inactive or bankrupt. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / April 20, 2025 / As the nation marks April 20 or '4/20,' the unofficial cannabis holiday long associated with marijuana reform, cultural awareness, and patient advocacy, new revelations expose a scandal at the heart of America's DEA federal cannabis research policy. The 8 companies granted marijuana registrations by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since 2021, the only one, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation is actively pursuing FDA-compliant, pharmaceutical-grade marijuana development. The others are either inactive, bankrupt or never began cultivation at all. Despite being the only registrant aligned with federal pharmaceutical drug development standards, MMJ BioPharma's application has been delayed since 2018 - a staggering violation of the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (MCREA), which requires the DEA to act within 60 days. 'This is not a backlog - this is a blockade. The DEA's inaction has destroyed scientific opportunities and patient hope. Seven years is not a delay - it's deliberate DEA obstruction' said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation. 4/20: From Celebration to DEA Epitome Of Ineptitude April 20 has long been a symbol of cannabis progress and patient empowerment. But in 2025, it also marks the failure of America's regulatory framework due to bureaucrats at the DEA that have not delivered. Meet Thomas Prevoznik, Deputy Administrator, Matthew Strait, Deputy Administrator Policy and Aarathi Haig, DEA attorney now under investigation for ethical violations. While the DEA continues to posture about promoting research, the facts tell a different story: MMJ BioPharma Cultivation: Still Waiting While Others Vanish MMJ BioPharma is the only registrant to: Despite these accomplishments, the DEA has yet to issue MMJ's bulk manufacturing registration. DEA's Marijuana Research Program: A Roster of Failure Calls for Action on 4/20 In light of the program's implosion, MMJ BioPharma and patient advocates are calling for: 'On this 4/20, Americans should not be celebrating cannabis reform - they should be demanding accountability, Boise added. 'The DEA's marijuana program isn't just broken. It's a scam - and suffering patients are paying the price.' MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey [email protected] 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings press release
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEA MARIJUANA SCAM: As DEA Cannabis Program Implodes This 4/20, MMJ Stands Alone in Pursuit of Real Medicine
MMJ's DEA lawsuit continues moving through the federal courts. The 8 organizations who have been issued DEA federal cannabis registrations since 2021, all are incapable of growing pharmaceutical-grade marijuana and 7 are now either inactive or bankrupt. WASHINGTON, DC / / April 20, 2025 / As the nation marks April 20 or "4/20," the unofficial cannabis holiday long associated with marijuana reform, cultural awareness, and patient advocacy, new revelations expose a scandal at the heart of America's DEA federal cannabis research policy. The 8 companies granted marijuana registrations by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since 2021, the only one, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation is actively pursuing FDA-compliant, pharmaceutical-grade marijuana development. The others are either inactive, bankrupt or never began cultivation at all. Despite being the only registrant aligned with federal pharmaceutical drug development standards, MMJ BioPharma's application has been delayed since 2018 - a staggering violation of the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (MCREA), which requires the DEA to act within 60 days. "This is not a backlog - this is a blockade. The DEA's inaction has destroyed scientific opportunities and patient hope. Seven years is not a delay - it's deliberate DEA obstruction" said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation. 4/20: From Celebration to DEA Epitome Of Ineptitude April 20 has long been a symbol of cannabis progress and patient empowerment. But in 2025, it also marks the failure of America's regulatory framework due to bureaucrats at the DEA that have not delivered. Meet Thomas Prevoznik, Deputy Administrator, Matthew Strait, Deputy Administrator Policy and Aarathi Haig, DEA attorney now under investigation for ethical violations. While the DEA continues to posture about promoting research, the facts tell a different story: 7 of 8 registrants are non-operational or irrelevant to medical science The only viable pharmaceutical applicant MMJ remains blocked MCREA's 60-day deadline has been ignored for over 2,300 days MMJ BioPharma Cultivation: Still Waiting While Others Vanish MMJ BioPharma is the only registrant to: Submit FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) applications Receive FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Huntington's Disease Develop a THC/CBD softgel for Huntington's Disease and MS Build a federally compliant cultivation facility Complete and pass DEA pre-registration inspections DEA Issued Schedule 1 registration to MMJ Labs Despite these accomplishments, the DEA has yet to issue MMJ's bulk manufacturing registration. DEA's Marijuana Research Program: A Roster of Failure Company Status Notes MMJ BioPharma Cultivation ✅ Active Still waiting for DEA to issue registration; only company pursuing FDA clinical trials with softgel capsule Maridose (Maine) ❌ Inactive Not growing, only 1,100 sq ft of space Scottsdale Research Institute ❌ Inactive No marijuana being cultivated Bright Green Corp ❌Surrendered Never grew; relinquished registration Royal Emerald Pharmaceuticals ❌ Inactive Rumored bankruptcy Groff NA Hemplex ❌ Inactive Ceased operations University of Mississippi ⚠️ Poor Quality Substandard marijuana, decades-old monopoly BRC (Biopharmaceutical Research Co.) ⚠️ Limited Activity Growing a small number of plants, not FDA-focused Irvine Labs ⚠️ Limited Activity Minimal cultivation, no pharmaceutical output Calls for Action on 4/20 In light of the program's implosion, MMJ BioPharma and patient advocates are calling for: Immediate approval of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation's stalled application A DOJ Office of Inspector General investigation Full congressional oversight hearings A formal audit of all DEA marijuana registrants since 2021 "On this 4/20, Americans should not be celebrating cannabis reform - they should be demanding accountability, Boise added. "The DEA's marijuana program isn't just broken. It's a scam - and suffering patients are paying the price." MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT:Madison Hiseymhisey@ SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings Related Documents: Image 4-18-25 at 11.00 AM View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
