JEDDAH, 19 August 2006 — The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) organized a function to mark the 60th Independence Day of Pakistan. The event was presided by veteran Pakistani Mohammad Abdur Rafi.
Altaf Hussain, president of Pakistan Writers Forum, praised PRC for timely convening the Independence Day function. He said that the achievement of Pakistan was a great blessing of Allah.
Abdur Rafi in his presidential address praised PRC for organizing the independence day function. He recalled the golden days when he worked with the Quaide Azam and his team during Pakistan movement. Ehsanul Haque, PRC’S convener, greeted the audience on the Independence Day. He appreciated thoughtful speeches and poets in sanctity of the day and issues of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis.
He said that creation of Pakistan was a miracle and we must adhere to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah and message of Quaid and Iqbal to achieve the goal of Pakistan. He praised Muslim World League, Islamic Development Bank, Refugee International for extending support and assistance to stranded Pakistanis. He praised Majeed Nizami, editor in chief of Nawai Waqt who in 2003 created a special fund for stranded Pakistanis. This fund has collected about 20 million rupees, out of which about half the money has already been spent on taking care and welfare of stranded Pakistanis in camps in Bangladesh.
The following resolutions were passed:
1. The goverment should negotiate with India on only one option i.e. the right of self-determination on the basis of UN resolution of 1948. 2. President Musharraf should order the reactivation of Rabita Trust and the process of repatriation and rehabilitation on the PRC proposal of “repatriation and rehabilitation on self-finance basis,” should start immediately. 3. We urge that Bangladesh be included in the Rabita Trust for repatriation of stranded Pakistanis. 4. We urge all charitable organizations like Edhi Trust, Ansar Burney Welfare Trust, welfare wings of Jamaat Islami, MQM, Tehrike Insaaf and other welfare organizations to start the supply of relief goods.
