Syed Mussarat Khalil Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Pakistan's government should establish “Allama Mohammed Iqbal Research University” to offer advance research knowledge on Iqbal poetry, philosophy, objectives and mission of creating Pakistan, Convener Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) Ehsan-ul-Haque suggested. “It is our duty to renew our commitment in fulfilling Iqbal's and Quaid's dream of making Pakistan a welfare Islamic state as the objective of its creation,” said Haque, who was speaking at a program organized by PRC at Kababish restaurant on Saturday to commemorate the 137th birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal. He said: “We cannot cover Iqbal's message in a small session. We must teach our young generation the true message of Iqbal to clear the misunderstanding about the real purpose of creation of Pakistan.” To solve the problems of repatriation and rehabilitation of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladeshi camps, Haque said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should reactivate the Rabita Trust which has been frozen since October 2001. He also appealed to Sharif that the Pakistan government should pursue the UN for plebiscite in Kashmir according to its resolution. The program was presided by President of Majlis-e-Iqbal Jeddah Dr. Irfan Hashmi. In his address, he paid rich tribute to Iqbal and said his poetry revived the vision of Islam, humanity and selfness. “He guided Muslims of subcontinent to keep high morals and see upward that's why ‘falcon' has a special place in his poetry. He wanted Muslims to believe in last revelation and follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in all aspects of life,” he said. He added: “However, if we analyze our lives we have not adhered to his teaching and failed to achieve the true objective of Iqbal and Quaid's mission. Today, we need to commit that we will adopt the message of Iqbal and mission of Quaid-e-Azam to make Pakistan a true Muslim welfare state.” Hashmi is also of the view that if “we had followed Iqbal's message we would not have left patriotic Pakistanis languishing in Bangladeshi camps for over four decades.” Deputy convener Hamid Islam Khan opened the program and said that PRC is committed to voice the rights of Kashmiris and stranded Pakistanis. Other guests and speakers included Shamsuddin Altaf and Agha Mohammad Akram of Pakistan Peoples Community, Syed Mahmoud Akhtar, Syed Qamar Shah of Engineers Welfare Forum (EWF), Khalid Jawed Mohammad of Pakistan Engineers Society, Chaudhry Rizwan Rashid of Journalists Foundation, Community leaders Mohammad Ashfaque Badayouni, Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz Ghumman, Sheikh Mohammad Luqman and Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhry, President, Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA). Local poets Syed Mohsin Alavi, Abdul Qayyum Wasiq and Zamarrud Khan Saifi presented their poems and paid tribute to Allama Iqbal. The program began with the recitation of a few verses from Qur'an; supplication was made by Abdul Majeed; naat was presented by Mohsin Alavi. The function was conducted by General Secretary Abdul Qayyum Wasiq.
