At a function organized here recently to mark the birth anniversary of the poet, speakers also urged Islamabad to reactivate the Rabita Trust in order to begin the repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh.
The meeting adopted resolutions asking Islamabad to assign its high commissioner in Dhaka to look after the quarter of a million Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh. It also urged OIC to include in its agenda the issue of stranded Pakistanis. Bangladesh government was urged to stop demolishing houses in the Geneva Camp in Dhaka.
The function was presided over by Urdu Markaz Vice President Irfan Hashmi, while the chief guest was Athar Naqvi.
In his speech, Hashmi said, "We have not been able to make Pakistan the way Iqbal had envisioned. We are divided in ethnic and religious groups. We need to adhere to the mission and objectives of Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam if we want to make the country a prosperous state."
Naqvi spoke about Iqbal's role in reawakening the Muslims of India. He said Iqbal presented the idea of two-nation theory that became the basis for the creation of Pakistan.
Another speaker Iftikhar Choudhry said Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh truly represented Iqbal's two-nation theory. They sacrificed everything for Pakistan, he said.
PRC convener Ehsanul Haque said the creation of Pakistan was the result of a struggle waged by Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam. He regretted that some vested interests and politicians played negative role that led to chaotic situation in the country.
Other speakers also paid tribute to Iqbal and called for the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh.
