JEDDAH — Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi, former Saudi diplomat and writer, praised the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's role in giving Muslims of the subcontinent a nation with his astute leadership. Speaking in halting Urdu that he had learnt in Karachi four decades ago as a student, Al-Ghamdi paid tributes to the Quaid on the 136th anniversary of his birthday that was marked by Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) here. As the primary speaker, Al-Ghamdi also highlighted the plight of the stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh and PRC's role in attempting to alleviate their situation. The event was held at a local restaurant on Monday night. He said Jinnah was not only a great leader of Pakistan but also of the whole Muslim world. He said, when the creation of Pakistan was considered “mission impossible,” it was his committed leadership and the sacrifices of Muslims in India's minority provinces that made this dream a reality. Most sacrifice and enthusiasm was from Bihar province in creation of Pakistan. They again stood for the integrity of the country in 1971 war, which Pakistan lost, for which those patriots are living in captivity in camps since Bangladesh was created. They should be repatriated and settled in Pakistan as per agreement of the Rabita Aalam-e-Islami Trust in 1988. Hamid-ul-Islam Khan, Deputy Convener, Riaz Bukhari, President Pakistan Peoples Community, Dr. Irfan Hashmi, Vice President of Aalami Urdu Markaz, Aziz Ahmed, General Secretary, Pakistan Engineers Society, Businessman Sheikh Luqman, Social worker, Amanatullah and former Radio Pakistan broadcaster Ashfaq Badayuni, paid rich tribute to Quaid and highlighted his principles of faith, unity and discipline. Poets Mohsin Alwi, Abdul Qayyum Waseq, Zamurrad Khan Saifi recited poems on Jinnah and Amin Najmi recited the poem written by his daughter Mona Najmi. Convener, Ehsan-ul-Haque thanked all the guests, speakers, poets and journalists for attending the function. At the end supplication was made for the solidarity, integrity, peace and harmony in the country.
