JEDDAH: The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) marked the 131st birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal, Pakistan’s thinker, philosopher and poet, at the Mehran restaurant here. Renowned poet and writer Naseem Sehar, who in his poem paid rich tributes to Allama Iqbal, presided over the function.
Qari Shakil Ahmed praised PRC for organizing the function on Iqbal and pledged that PML leader Nawaz Sharif was committed to solving the issue of repatriation of stranded Pakistanis at the first opportunity.
Syed Riaz Bukhari, president Pakistan Peoples Community, too paid rich tributes to Allama Iqbal. He said that issues of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis need prompt attention and “we fully support PRC in its effort to solve the issue.”
Community leaders Shaikh Luqman also suggested PRC to approach the leadership of new government to push for a solution of the issue of stranded Pakistanis. Ateequr Rahman, organizer of Mohibbane Pakistan, said that “we talk a lot about our leaders like Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam but we don’t follow their teachings or messages.”
Convener Ehsanul Haque said that Allama Iqbal’s thought for separate homeland convinced Quaid-e-Azam that led to the achievement of Pakistan. He said “today we need to commit to carry the mission of Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam for the achievement of true goal of Pakistan.” He urged all political parties to present solution to issues of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis in their election manifestoes.
Besides Naseem Sehar, Qamar Haider Qamar, Zamurrad Khan Saifi, Syed Mohsin Alavi, Gule Anwar and Pervez Khan paid rich tributes to Allama Iqbal.
