By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) held a symposium titled “Kashmir and our obligation” in solidarity with Kashmiris fighting for the right of self-determination.

Renowned Saudi intellectual and ex-diplomat Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi presided over the event. Chief guest was Dr. Abdul Aleem Khan, president Engineers Welfare Forum (EWF), and Abdullah Babar, director Star Asia channel, and Faisal Tahir Khan were the guests of honor.

The program stated with recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by Qari Mohammad Asif. Al-Ghamdi, in his presidential address, said that Kashmir and Palestine are among oldest issues that the UN has failed to solve. He said that according to two-nation theory Kashmir should have been part of Pakistan. In 1947 Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised to the UN that India will organize a plebiscite in Kashmir soon but even after 70 years India has not organized the plebiscite.

For permanent peace in subcontinent between two nuclear neighbors the issue must be solved peacefully. Pakistan and OIC should take this issue seriously in UN to pursue India to organize the plebiscite in Kashmir as soon as possible and remove its forces from suppressing the people’s movement for their right of self-determination.

He also urged Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan to fulfill his promise to repatriate and rehabilitate patriotic Pakistanis languishing in Bangladesh for 47 years. He said, “Allah has blessed him to become prime minister so he must take care of oppressed Pakistanis.” He demanded that Pakistan revalidated their citizenship and issue passports to them. The PRC proposal envisages solution on self-finance basis without burdening national economy.

Dr. Aleem Khan thanked PRC for organizing the symposium on Kashmir. He urged UN to fulfill its resolution for plebiscite in Kashmir. He demanded immediate withdrawal of Indian forces from Kashmir. He also demanded immediate repatriation of patriotic from Bangladesh and resettled in Pakistan.

Abdullah Babar blamed UN for double standard, which while playing very active role for plebiscite in East Timor and Sudan have over 70 years failed to organize plebiscite in Kashmir, which was under its mandate.

Faisal Tahir Khan said that UN could not organize plebiscite in Kashmir in the past 70 years. He quoted that India’s Premier Nehru wrote to then prime minister of Pakistan Liaqat Ali Khan on Oct. 31, 1947, that “We commit that as soon as peace prevails, we will remove our forces from Kashmir and people will decide their affiliation by plebiscite.”

Syed Neaz Ahmed, president Pakistan Writers Forum, said that Muslim Ummah is like one body so any part that suffers will cause pain. Issues of Kashmir, Palestine, Burmese Muslims, Syrians and other have increased the pain of Ummah.

He also urged Pakistan to take concrete measures to repatriate and rehabilitate patriotic Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh since 1971. He said, “It is the need of the hour to unite the Ummah and to take lead in solving issues of Kashmir, Palestine; stranded Pakistanis, Burmese Muslims and other issues.”

Community leader Advocate Altaf Malik, Jamil Rathore, general secretary of Pakistan Journalists Forum, Mohammad Amanatullah and active member Memon community Siraj Adam said that government must keep issues of Kashmir and stranded Pakistanis on top of its agenda to solve. Mohammad Amanatullah conducted the proceeding.

Acting Convenor Syed Mussarat Khalil thanked all guests and presented following resolutions which were approved:

n Pakistan government should use good offices of OIC, UN, China, US and other powers to influence India to ensure plebiscite in Kashmir according to UN’s resolution of 1948.

n Prime Minister Imran Khan must take urgent measures to restart the repatriation and rehabilitation of stranded Pakistanis. To overcome the paucity of fund, PRC suggests implementation of PRC proposal of “ settlement of stranded Pakistanis on self finance basis“. Bangladesh should also play its role in solving the issue.

n 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 issue of stranded Pakistanis.