The Pakistan Repatriation Council (PRC) held a symposium titled “Kashmir - an obligation of the Muslim Ummah” last week in a restaurant in Jeddah. The function was presided over by Talib Hussain, Pakistani vice consul, on behalf of the Pakistani consul general. Mohammad Jameel Khan, press attaché at the Pakistani Consulate, was the chief guest. Khan expressed appreciation for the PRC's efforts in organizing the symposium dedicated to the cause of Kashmir. “However, organizing a symposium once a year will not solve the problem of the Kashmiris. We need to do a lot to secure the right of self-determination for Kashmiris. It is a pity that the UN has failed to organize the promised plebiscite in Kashmir,” he said. Rauf Tahir, managing editor of Urdu Magazine, described Kashmir as the “unfinished agenda of the Pakistan movement.” Guest of honor Sameera Aziz, Saudi Gazette senior editor, in her message said: “A free and impartial plebiscite should be conducted in Kashmir by the United Nations, and the Kashmiri people should be given the opportunity to decide their future themselves.” Others who spoke on the occasion included: Syed Riaz Hussain Bukhari, president of Pakistan Peoples Community, Mohammad Ashfaque Badaouni, Eng. Iftikhar Choudhry, Choudhry Saeed Jutt, Sheikh Mohammad Luqman, Gulab Khan, Shamsuddin Altaf, and Ilyas Meher, all of whom highlighted the plight of the Kashmiris and the stranded Pakistanis. Convener Ehsanul Haque urged the OIC to play a stronger role in the organizing of a plebiscite in Kashmir. Various resolutions were passed by the gathering in the interest of stranded Pakistanis and Kashmiris. The event was conducted by Syed Musarrat Khalil, recitation of the Holy Qur'an by Qari Abdul Majeed and naat by Zamarrud Khan. Poets Naseem-e-Sehar, Syed Mohsin Alavi, Abdul Qayyum Waseq, Zamurrad Khan Saifi and Gule Anwar presented poetic tributes to the people of Kashmir. __
