JEDDAH, 28 December 2005 — Speakers at a function organized by the Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) called for adhering to the principles of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to counter the machinations of vested interests trying to drive wedges between Muslim groups.
The event, marking the birth anniversary of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was presided over by Mohammad Jameel, press attache at the Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah.
Coordinating Editor of Urdu News and Urdu Magazine Tarek Mishkhas, who was the chief guest, paid tributes to Quaid-e-Azam saying he was a great leader not only of the Muslims of the subcontinent but of the Ummah. He appreciated the role of Pakistani expatriates in the Kingdom. He said the way Pakistanis helped their brethren in the earthquake-affected areas was highly commendable.
Mohammad Jameel said Jinnah was one of the greatest statesmen of our times who had great vision for the Muslims of the subcontinent. He said it is time to take stock of the situation and see what we have achieved and what we have failed to achieve and the reasons for our failures.
PRC convener Ehsanul Haque said Quaid-e-Azam wanted to make Pakistan a model Islamic state of compassion for all Muslims. However, most of the country’s leaders and politicians have failed to carry on his mission and the goal was lost.
Maqboolur Rahman Abbasi said Quaid’s dynamic leadership united the Muslims of the subcontinent that led to the creation of Pakistan. He urged the government to resolve the issues of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis according to the will of those people.
Rauf Tahir commended Jinnah as a man of strong character who wanted to make Pakistan a country where the rights of everybody could be protected.
The meeting adopted resolutions that called on President Pervez Musharraf to reactivate the Rabita Trust and begin the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis.
The meeting praised Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi’s statement that he would honor the Rabita Trust agreement that proposes the rehabilitation of the stranded Pakistanis in Punjab after their repatriation by the Pakistan government. The meeting urged the Punjab chief minister to restore the supply of water, electricity to the Mian Chunnu housing units that were disconnected in 2001 after the Rabita Trust’s funds were frozen.
The PRC took exception to the statement made by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasneem Aslam in which she had asked stranded Pakistanis to accept Bangladeshi nationality because the new generation was born and brought up there.
Other speakers included Monawar Hashmi, Mohammad Jamil Rathore, Farhan Siddiqui and others. The participants prayed for the integrity of the country and condoled the death of the mother of Hamid Islam Khan.
