Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) observed the 79th death anniversary of Pakistan's thinker, poet and philosopher Dr. Allama Mohammad Iqbal Pakistan at Mehran restaurant. The event was presided by renowned intellectual writer and ex-diplomat Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi. Raja Mohammad Zareen Khan, senior member Jammu Kashmir Committee overseas (JKCO), was the chief guest. Other guests included Mohammad Ali Ghamdi, Choudhry Rizwan Rasheed, president Pakistan Media Group (PMG), Syed Naseeruddin, Wasi Imam, Fahimuddin, Mohammad Ashfaq and prominent members from Pakistani community. Dr. Ali Ghamdi in his presidential address thanked PRC for organizing the event on Allama Iqbal. He said Iqbal was not only the poet of subcontinent but for the whole humanity in general and for the Muslim world in particular. He said Iqbal was famous for his vision in politics, religion and economy also. The idea of a separate Muslim state for the people of the subcontinent was originally given by Allama Iqbal and at that time Muhammad Ali Jinnah was not convinced of it. He later accepted the idea of Dr. Iqbal and fought for a separate homeland, which came into being in 1947. It is unfortunate that Pakistan got dismembered in 1971. Those who migrated in 1947 from India to East Pakistan sided with the Pakistan army for the solidarity of Pakistan. After the creation of Bangladesh those patriotic Pakistanis were subjected to severe persecution and killing for their ‘crime' of siding with Pakistan. It is the duty of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to repatriate and rehabilitate them in Pakistan as per the Rabita Trust agreement of 1988. In this issue groups like the OIC and MWL should also help Pakistan in their bid to settle the repatriated Pakistanis. Zareen Khan thanked PRC and paid rich tribute to Allama Iqbal, who was a Kashmiri and wrote about Kashmir. He said Iqbal wanted to reverse the decline of Muslim Ummah in the world in general and in India in particular. He urged Pakistani government to press India for the rights of self-determination of Kashmiri people. Urdu writer Mohammad Amanatullah, Shamsuddin Altaf and Akram Agha paid tribute to Allama Iqbal and said it is unfortunate that today's media portrays Iqbal negatively. They said that it is national obligation of our government to make it obligatory to educate all about Allama Iqbal's message, especially to the new generation. Syed Ehsan ul Haque, convener, thanked Dr. Ali Ghamdi and guests for participating in Allama Iqbal day program. Earlier, the event started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an by Mohammad Ashfaq, Naat (glorifying Prophet Muhammad, pbuh) was presented by Sher Afzal. Renowned poet Syed Mohsin Alavi and Sher Afzal presented poems on Iqbal. Following resolutions were adopted by the audience: A demand to the government to establish "Allama Iqbal Research University" to offer research/advance knowledge on Iqbal's poetry and philosophy and the objective and mission of creating Pakistan. A demand to UN to organize plebiscite in Kashmir according to its resolution, and Indian forces should be removed immediately. Kashmiri leadership must be included in all the negotiations between India and Pakistan. A demand of urgent repatriation of stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh. To overcome paucity of fund, the government should implement PRC proposal of "settlement of stranded Pakistanis on self finance basis." Pakistani High Commissioner at Dhaka should be assigned to take care of food, health, life and security of quarter million Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh. The OIC should include in its agenda the issue of settlement of stranded Pakistanis. At the end supplication was made by Bahjat Ayub Najmi.
