The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) urged Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to discuss the issue of stranded Pakistanis during his proposed visit to Bangladesh in October this year. At a function organized in Jeddah recently to celebrate the 44th anniversary of Pakistan's Defense Day, the PRC reiterated its plea to reactivate the Rabita Trust (frozen in October 2001) and restart the repatriation and rehabilitation process. Shahid Nayeem, President of Pakistan Journalists Forum was the chief guest for this event and commended PRC for organizing such gathering. He appealed to President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani to work towards solving the issue of stranded Pakistanis. Farhan Siddiqui, organizer of the Muslim Welfare and Development Organization paid tribute to the soldiers martyred in 1965 war. He urged people to extend support to stranded Pakistanis by sending Zakat, charity and aid to help them. Convener Ehsanul Haque expressed gratitude to the attendees for, coming together on this national event of defence day. He emphasised on the need to work according to the national priority and shun the ethnic or parochial approach. He thanked the Federal Minister Overseas, Farouq Sattar and Interior Minister, Rahman Malik for meeting the PRC team in Jeddah and also assured that the Prime Minister will be requested to include in his agenda, to discuss the issue of stranded Pakistanis when he meets Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hassena next month. Speakers who paid respect to the soldiers of 1965 war also included; Naeem Hafiz, Burhan Siddiqui and Hafiz Mohammad Sabir. The event was organized by Syed Mussarat Khalil, recitation of the holy Qur'an was made by Qari Abdul Majeed and naat by Sher Afzal.
