Syed Mussarat Khalil Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Pakistan came into being after a long and hard struggle of millions of Muslims of subcontinent under the visionary leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal and many others who had striven hard to achieve a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent, said Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi. Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi, who was the chief guest at the reception organized by Pakistan Community Jeddah (PCJ) on the auspicious occasion of 69th Independence Day of Pakistan, made this statement during his address at the Lasani (Spinzer) restaurant on Tahlia Street. The PCJ had organized an event titled “Iss Parcham Ke Saaye Tale Hum Aik Hain” (We are united under our flag). The gathering extolled the day as special for Pakistan as it was envisioned by the founder of the country Quaid-e-Azam Mohamed Ali Jinnah who had called for Unity, Faith & Discipline. Al-Ghamdi congratulated all Pakistani community members on celebrating their Independence Day. He praised the skills of Pakistani doctors, engineers, technicians, labors and their contributions in the development of Saudi Arabia. He also urged a quick resolution to the issue of Kashmir and Stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh. Guest of Honor Professor Asif Ahmed Khan from King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, expressed his happiness on the presence of representatives from all walks of life from the Pakistani community. He paid rich tribute to Quaid (Muhammad Ali Jinnah), the father of the nation, in envisioning and building Pakistan into a true Islamic, democratic and progressive state. The function was presided over by Majid Awan, Consul from Consulate General of Pakistan. It began with recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an by Qari Faiz ul Haque. Naat was presented by Shar Afzal. Chief organizer Syed Riaz Haider Bukhari conducted the proceedings and welcomed all guests, speakers, poets and journalists. He thanked Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi for taking time out to share his views on this special day, and said he considered him as a brother and friend of Pakistan. Speakers and poets included Choudhry Riaz Ghumman PML (N), Choudhry Tassawar Hussain (PPP), Nosherwan Khattak (ANP), Asif Butt (JI), Shamsul Haq (JUI), Haji Saif ullah Tahir (PTI) Qari Mohammed Irshad-ul-Haq (J & KCO), poets Zamurrad Khan Saifi and Ather Nafees Abbasi. They all emphasized on the need for unity to develop an integrated society free of any exploitation and discrimination and commitment to protect the country against any threat in their speeches and poetry. The most exciting thing of the function was that most of parties and forums from Pakistani community including PPP, PTI, ANP, JI, PML-N, J& KCO, AUM, PRC, PNC, PWS, MWS, doctors forum (PDF), engineers forum (PEF), investors forum (PIF), Pakistan Jatt Foundation (PJF), Halqa-e-Danish, Pakistan Journalist Foundation Forum (PJFF), and others celebrated the Independence Day together for the first time in the history of I-Day celebrations in the city. The audience was also entertained by national songs, cake cutting ceremony and dinner. At the end supplication was made for Pakistan's solidarity, integrity, peace and harmony.
