The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) has urged the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to include the issue of settlement of stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh in their agenda. In a resolution passed at a function organized to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of Pakistan Independence Day, PRC also urged President Asif Ali Zardari to reactivate the Rabita Trust and to restart the process of repatriation and rehabilitation of the stranded Pakistanis. Presiding over the function, Rauf Tahir, senior editor and in-charge of Urdu Magazine, urged Pakistan's leadership to work with dedication for the betterment of Pakistan and its ideology. Chief guest Seth Luqman, appreciating the PRC for organizing national day functions, said: “On this day, we should not forget the patriotic stranded Pakistanis who are languishing in Bangladeshi camps”. Syed Musarrat Khalil read out a message from Sameera Aziz, Saudi Gazette senior editor, in which she lauded the PRC's struggle for the rights of the stranded Pakistanis. “A quarter million Pakistanis have been living in inhuman conditions for over 37 years now; it is our moral duty as Muslims to bring them back. In this regards Pakistan should seek the assistance of organizations such as the OIC, MWL, etc.,” the message said. Others who spoke on the occasion include Eng. Syed Neaz Ahmed, president of Pakistan Writers Forum; Maqboolur Rahman Abbasi of Pakistan Journalists Forum; Gulab Khan, member of Alami Urdu Markaz; Asadullah Amer of Pakistan Peoples Community; Choudhry Saeed Jutt, chairman of Pakistan Muslim Society; Eng. Rashid Chishti of Pakistan Saraiki Forum; and convener Ehsanul Haque The event was conducted by Hamid Islam Khan, recitation from the Holy Qur'an by Qari Abdul Majeed, Naat by Masoud Abbasi, and national song by Sher Afzal. Renowned poets Abdul Qayyum Waseq, Syed Mohsin Alavi, Saifullah Hasrat, Zamurrad Khan Saifi, Nawaz Janjua, Syed Mahtab Ahmed and Gule Anwar presented their poems. Special prayers were held for poet and community leader late Tahir Jameel who expired recently. __
