The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) celebrated the 134rth birth anniversary of Pakistan's founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah at a local restaurant in Jeddah last week. Senior Eng. Mohammad Abdul Rafi presided over the gathering. Chief guest Eng. Aziz Ahmed, secretary general of Pakistan Engineers Society, commended the PRC for organizing the national event. He said that it is due to the failure to adhere to the teachings of Jinnah that the country is passing through a critical situation. He urged the Pakistani government to arrange the repatriation and rehabilitation of the stranded Pakistanis. Guest of honor Sameera Aziz, Saudi Gazette senior editor, in her message said: “At a critical time like this, we miss the guidance and leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam. Today, on the day of his birth, we need to revive his message of unity, faith and discipline. Our leaders must remember and implement his mission and goal for a prosperous Pakistan. I appreciate the PRC for organizing this event.” Among others who spoke on the occasion included: Abu Farhan Siddiqui of the Muslim Welfare & Development organization, PRC convener Ehsanul Haque, community leaders Gulab Khan, Shamsuddin Altaf, and Amanutallah. In his presidential speech, Eng. Rafi, who shared some of his memories of working with Jinnah during the Pakistan movement when the former was an engineering student and member of the Muslim Students Federation in Lahore, said: “Jinnah's qualities of commitment to the cause, determination, honesty, and belief were what had impressed the Muslims of India to believe him as a leader of the subcontinent, who opted for the two-nation theory.” Poets Abdul Qayyum Waseq, Zamurrad Khan Saifi and Gule Anwar presented poetic tributes to Jinnah The event was conducted by Syed Musarrat Khalil, recitation from the Holy Qur'an by Qari Abdul Majeed, and naat by Sher Afzal.
