By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The recent burning of a camp housing stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh was condemned at a meeting convened by Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) here on Monday evening.

Criticizing the burning of the camp at Durga Mill in Saidpur area, former diplomat and intellectual Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi, said that it was the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to protect stranded Pakistanis in its camps.

“It is unfortunate that Pakistani government and the high commission at Dhaka didn't bother to visit the uprooted Pakistani families and extend essential services to them,” he said.

He appealed to Prime minister Imran Khan to take urgent measures to repatriate them and settle them in Pakistan permanently.

Chief guest and PRC Convener Syed Ehsan-ul-Haq said at least 30 families were affected badly in the burning the camp. Although details are not available so far, it appears some miscreants started the fire to exact revenge on the stranded Pakistanis. Bengalis consider them “traitors” as they allegedly sided with Pakistani army in the 1971 war.

Haq thanked Dr. Al-Ghamdi and all others in showing solidarity with the affected families in the camp.

He commended efforts of the Friends of Humanity (FOH) team members for their timely help and in alleviating miseries of ill-fated stranded Pakistanis.

Guest of honor Syed Niaz Ahmed praised PRC for raising the voice of stranded Pakistanis and organizing awareness programs. These stranded Pakistanis, he said, have been waiting for the last 48 years to return to their homeland Pakistan, he said.

Earlier the program started with the recitation of a few verses of the Holy Qur'an by Syed Niaz Ahmed. Renowned poet Zamurrad Khan Saifi presented a poem on stranded Pakistanis.

Syed Mussarat Khalil conducted the proceeding and read out the message of Ehteshamuddin Arshad Nizami, chairman PRC in Chicago. He said local authorities are sympathetic and present on the spot for rescue. Volunteers of FOH, HID and other camp residents are there to help the affected people.

Community volunteer Syed Shehabuddin, and members of the Engineers Welfare Forum (EWF) Syed Ghazanfar Hasan and Naseer Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.

At the end Shamsuddin Altaf prayed for the integrity, safety and security of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.