JEDDAH, 27 September — Speakers at a function organized by the Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) here on Wednesday regretted the apathy of the United Nations toward the issues facing the Muslim world.

Mahmud Ali, federal minister for Cabinet Division, lamented the bias of the UN and the West against the issues of Kashmir and Palestine.

He said that Muslims were suffering because they had failed to adhere to the Islamic teachings and were following the West in many aspects. He cited the example of Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait for which the West and the UN took prompt action. But the same UN and Western countries were silent on Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. He said the UN resolutions on Kashmir adopted decades ago are yet to be implemented which shows the double standard of the world body. A recent example of the UN discrimination is the holding of plebiscite in East Timor while totally disregarding the wishes of the Kashmiri people who are fighting for their right to self-determination.

Mahmud Ali said that Pakistan was rich in resources and it is the blessing of Allah. He said we should adhere to the Islamic teachings and remain committed to the principles of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah — unity, faith and discipline.

On the issue of stranded Pakistanis, Mahmud Ali recalled having told former President Gen. Zia-ul-Haq when asked by him, that the stranded people should be issued Pakistani passports if we cannot return them the East Pakistan where they had migrated. The people had migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and not to Bangladesh. They are still loyal to Pakistan even after 30 years.

Mahmud Ali said he would discuss the issue with President Pervez Musharraf to seek ways to solve the problem.

Tahir Iqbal Butt, the consul general of Pakistan, who presided over the function paid tributes to Mahmud Ali for his role in Pakistan Movement. On the issue of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis he said that the federal government would take the steps it deems necessary. He said the consulate was not in a position to play any active role on the issues. The proposal or resolutions presented by the PRC or the community from time to time would be forwarded to the authorities concerned.

Another speaker Azeez Ahmed said that the issue of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis should be given top priority.

Sardar Rahmat scoffed at the idea that the repatriation of a quarter million stranded Pakistanis will bring about demographic change in Sindh or elsewhere. He said over a million aliens were living in Karachi alone.

Shahid Nayeem said veteran leader Mahmud Ali should use his good offices to expedite the repatriation and rehabilitation of stranded Pakistanis.

Farhan Siddiqui highlighted the activities of Muslim Welfare Organization in extending help to the stranded people in Bangladesh camps.

Ehsanul Haque, convener of the PRC, hoped that Mahmud Ali will play an active role in resolving the issue of the stranded Pakistanis’ repatriation to the homeland.

Akhter Hussain Mayo of Saudi German Hospitals group also spoke on the occasion. The function was conducted by Hamid Islam Khan.