JEDDAH, 4 April 2005 — The deteriorating situation in which stranded Pakistanis continue to remain in Bangladesh was highlighted at a meeting of Pakistan Repatriation Council here.
Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former secretary-general of the World Muslim League and former deputy chairman of the Shoura Council, who presided, referred to his recent visit to Bangladesh and said the situation of stranded Pakistanis was “deteriorating day by day.
“The financial burden had made local authorities discontinue the meager supply of wheat and other essentials to them,” said Naseef. I suggest PRC should take further measures to approach authorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh to secure basic amenities for the stranded Pakistanis in their camps and seek their permanent settlement,” he said.
Poet Dr. Professor Monawar Hashmi, president of Urdu Markaz, said: “Let’s pray for the early resolution of the issue of stranded Pakistanis.”
PRC Convener Ehsanul Haque deplored that the Rabita Trust’s fund remained frozen since October 2001 despite the clearance of embezzlement charges.
He said PRC had approached various organizations including UNHCR, IIRO Eidhi Trust, MQM, Mir Khalilur Rahman Trust and other national and international charitable organizations to seek resumption of supply of food, medicine, blankets and other essential items to the quarter million stranded Pakistanis living in 66 camps in Bangladesh.
The meeting passed resolutions calling for the inclusion of Kashmiris in the negotiation process related to the Kashmir issue, reactivation of Rabita Trust and repatriation and rehabilitation of stranded Pakistanis on the basis of self-finance, and resumption of supply of essential goods to the stranded by various organizations. Poets Naseem Sehar, Mohsin Alavi, Zamurrad Khan Saifi, and Abdul Qayyum Wasiq presented their poems. Aziz Ahmed, Iqbal Ahmed Khan, Ashfaque Mazhar, Mian Mateen Aslam, Mohammad Jameel Rathore, Asad Akram, Anwar A. Rizvi, Dilshad Jaani, Ghulam Nabi Butt, Maqboolur Rahman Abbasi, Dr. Irfan Hashmi, Tariq Mamud and Latifur Rahman also spoke. Hamid Aslam Khan conducted the proceedings.