JEDDAH, 13 May 2004 — “Hisar”, a new magazine that aims to highlight the national and humanitarian issue of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh, was launched by the Pakistan Repatriation Council at a meeting here recently.

World Muslim Congress President Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, who presided, had a word of praise for the PRC that had been projecting the issue of the stranded people. “The issue is getting complicated as it lingers on,” said Dr. Naseef, winner of Hilal-e-Pakistan award.

He urged Muslim countries to extend financial help to Pakistan in resolving the issue. He hoped that Islamabad would take steps for the repatriation and rehabilitation of the stranded people.

Dr. Francis Lamand, president of Paris-based Islam and the West, who was the chief guest, described the magazine as a milestone in the continuing efforts of PRC in seeking a final solution to the problem. He said he had been working to help resolve the issue since he came to know about the plight of stranded Pakistanis.

Lamand said he was ready to use the resources of his organization, Islam and the West, to resolve the issue. He met Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar in January 2003 in Islamabad and President Pervez Musharraf in Paris in July the same year.

Lamand presented to Musharraf a PRC proposal that envisages the repatriation and rehabilitation of stranded Pakistanis on a self-finance basis.

Lamand said he expected to have a formal meeting with President Musharraf soon in Islamabad to discuss the issue.

Poet Naseem Sehar said the purpose of the magazine, published in Arabic, Urdu and English, was to highlight the humanitarian issue of the stranded Pakistanis “which is being ignored by our leaders.”

Convener Ehsanul Haque urged Pakistan government to reactivate the Rabita Trust and organize the repatriation and rehabilitation of the stranded people .

Other guests and speakers included Amir Mohammad Khan of Pakistan Journalists Forum, Abu Farhan Siddiqui of Muslim Welfare and Development Organization, and community leaders — Latifur Rahman, Mohammad Ashfaque and Maqboolur Rahman Abbasi. Syed Mohsin Alavi conducted the proceedings and Jameel Rathore recited verses from the Qur’an.