Prominent Pakistani expatriates in Jeddah paid warm tributes to Ansar Burney, globally renowned for his extensive campaigning for the release of prisoners, at the Rahma Banquet Hall in Jeddah.

Pakistani expat Rohail Khan’s newly formed Society for International Peace (SIP) organized the function, which was attended by most prominent expats, including intellectuals, doctors, engineers, scientists and businessmen. Tahseem Ul Haq Haqqi, Pakistan consul for welfare, was the guest of honor at the event.

Burney, who was here to perform Umrah, said his work is aimed at emancipating fellow brethren from legal misery and injustice.

His holistic approach to humanity undercuts the virtual “holier than thou” social and cultural scene worldwide.

Burney helps people regardless of their faith, color or social status.

“All mankind comes from Adam and Eve,” he said, quoting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Burney frequently paraphrases the Prophet’s last sermon to drive home his point in a Muslim society torn by sectarian divide, which he said harms unity.

He quotes a famous part of a sermon that asserts that neither Arabs are superior to non-Arabs or vice versa, nor are whites superior to blacks or the contrary.

It was this inspiration he said that drove him to launch several projects, including the well-known Ansar Burney Trust, Prisoners Aid Society and Bureau of Missing and Kidnapped Persons.

Burney partially blamed Muslim scholars in the subcontinent, particularly Pakistan, for the fragmentation and bigotry that plagues society.

“They didn’t play a proactive role to keep people united,” he told the audience.

Society has consequently degenerated into a parochial abyss, where even mosques have been divided on sectarian lines, “which is unfortunate.”

The human rights activist exhorted Muslims of the subcontinent to learn from Saudi society and lauded mosques in the Kingdom, where worshippers are not barred from entry on account of their personal sectarian feelings. This, he says, instils a sense of tranquility and brotherhood.

His efforts to secure the release of Indian prisoners languishing in Pakistan jails for years and his courageous role to stop human trafficking of Pakistani children has been recognized abroad.

In fact, the US State Department declared Ansar Burney “International Human Rights Hero” in 2005.

Burney praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his sustained efforts to upgrade facilities in the two holy cities for Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

“Crown Prince Salman and his government, particularly officials engaged in Haj affairs, deserve appreciation for their laudable management of the season, which, in itself, is a model for the entire Muslim nation,” he said.

In this, he said, is a lesson on how to remain united and maintain spiritual order in society in general.

The program began with a Qur’anic recitation by Qari M. Asif.

Attendees included Aziz Ahmed, president of the Pakistan Engineers Society, Mujeeb Hasan, technical director at the Dunia Group, Khalil ur Rehman, president of the Pakistan Welfare Society, Abubakar Memon, chairman of the National Peace Committee for Inter-Faith Harmony, Abdul Shakoor Shaikh, GM at the Globe Marine Group, Khursheed Nayyer, physics professor at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Chaudhray Yousuf Ibrahim, chairman of the CCO Group, Shahzad Hameed Anwer Ali, CEO of the Derma Sphere Group, Ehsanul Haq, convener at PRC, Fakhruddin Ahmed, senior economist and Tariq Cheema, geology professor at KAU University.