By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) observed the 81st death anniversary of Pakistan’s thinker, poet and philosopher Dr. Allama Mohammad Iqbal recently at Mehran restaurant.

Ex-diplomat Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi presided over the event. Hamid Islam Khan, deputy convener was the chief guest. Other guests included Jamil Rathore, general secretary of Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF), Mohammed Riaz Ghumman, Pak Media Group (PMG), Eng. Khalid Jawed and Syed Naseeruddin.

Ghamdi, in his presidential address, thanked PRC for organizing the event on Allama Iqbal. He said Iqbal’s intellect was not only in poetry but also in philosophy, politics, economy and Islamic vision.

He said, “Iqbal was not the poet of subcontinent only but for whole humanity, in general, and for Muslim world, in particular. The idea of a separate homeland for Muslims state was presented by Allama Iqbal. Jinnah started his political career with Congress but he realized that it was not possible to secure rights of Muslims due to negative attitude of Hindu leadership. Then he accepted the idea of Dr. Iqbal and fought for separate homeland which came in reality in 1947.”

Ghamdi said that renowned Arab poets and philosophers also acknowledged Iqbal as greatest Muslim reformer of the century. In a seminar in 1932 in Spain, Allama Iqbal presented Islamic ruling as only solution for the humanity in presence of Western intellectuals and philosophers. He said that Dr. Iqbal’s message can guide the Muslim Ummah in the right direction.

He said at this time we should not forget those Muslims, who migrated in 1947 from Bihar to East Pakistan to settle in Iqbal and Quaid’s Pakistan. However, after the fall of Dhaka in 1971 patriotic Pakistanis are languishing in Bangladesh for their patriotism to Pakistan. It is the duty of state of Pakistan to issue them passport and settle them in Pakistan with due respect. Rabita Trust had funds, which can be used for alleviating their miseries in camps. PRC proposal can be considered to organize their repatriation and settlement on self-finance basis.

Chief guest Hamid Islam Khan said that though Allama Iqbal was declared our national poet, but the government never educated the students about his vision. He demanded Iqbal day should be declared holiday in Pakistan. Khan reiterated PRC’s mission for the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and rights of self-determination to Kashmiris. “This is our national duty to bring patriotic Pakistanis and settle them in Pakistan on priority,” he said.

Ghumman paid rich tributes to Allama Iqbal. He said Iqbal’s message awakened Muslim’s in India, which led to creation of Pakistan under great leadership of Quaid e Azam. He urged Pakistani government to press India to secure the rights of self-determination of Kashmiri people. He also demanded early repatriation of stranded Pakistanis.

Tayyab Mosani, general secretary of Pakistan Memon Association, praised PRC for organizing programs on our national days which is their patriotism. He said if we want to make Pakistan truly as per the plan of Iqbal and Quaid we must adhere to the teachings of Allama Iqbal and Quaid e Azam.

Community leader Shamsuddin Altaf said that Iqbal’s teachers were also impressed by his vision. His professor Nicholson translated poem “Asrare khudee” in Engilsh and introduced it in Europe. He said the only way to achieve purpose of Pakistan’s creation was to adhere to mission of Quaid and Iqbal.

Mohammad Amanatullah conducted the event, Naat was presented by Eng. Khaled Jawed. Zamurrad Khan Saifi paid tribute to Iqbal in his poem.

Syed Mussarat Khalil, acting convener, thanked Dr. Ali Ghamdi and guests for participating. He presented following resolutions which were adopted by the audience:

• Prime Minister Imran Khan should create “Allama Iqbal Research University” to offer research/advance knowledge on Iqbal’s poetry and philosophy and the objective and mission of creating Pakistan to the new generation.

• Holiday on Allama Iqbal day must be reinstated.

• UNO should organize plebiscite in Kashmir according to it’s resolution, Indian forces should be withdrawn immediately. Kashmiri leadership must be included in all the negotiations between India and Pakistan.

• Uurgent repatriation of stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh. To overcome paucity of fund, should implement PRC proposal of “settlement of stranded Pakistanis on self finance basis.”

• Pakistani High Commissioner at Dhaka should be assigned to take care of food, health, life and security of quarter million Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh. OIC should include in its agenda the issue of settlement of stranded Pakistanis.