LAHORE - Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman Rafique Tarar has said that we have been entrusted with an independent country by our ancestors and the martyrs of the Pakistan Movement.
He expressed this in his presidential address at the inaugural session of the eighth annual three-day Nazaria-i-Pakistan Conference at the Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan yesterday.
The moot is being conducted under the aegis of the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust in collaboration with the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust.
“We must embrace the virtue of self-accountability and atone for our omissions and commissions of the past. The key subject of the conference is “A Unique Vision for the Survival and Glorification of Pakistan.”
The proceedings of the Conference were conducted by Nazaria-i-Pakistan Secretary Shahid Rasheed.
Rafique Tarar observed that South-East Asia will remain deprived of peace until India recognises the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination and agrees to hold a plebiscite in compliance with the UN resolutions.
“Pakistan can become the starting-point of the renaissance of Islam provided that all the citizens of Pakistan lay aside all their differences and prejudices and work for its transformation into a modern Islamic, democratic and welfare state in the light of thoughts and actions of Allama Iqbal and the Quaid-i-Azam,” Tarar observed.
Tarar said: “The obduracy of the Indian rulers has turned Kashmir into a nuclear flashpoint.” He emphasized the need for the entire political and military leadership to agree on the one-point agenda of liberating Kashmir from the clutches of India, which will also put an end to India’s water aggression.
Those obsessed with the idea of establishing friendly relations with India had better learn a lesson by looking at the miserable plight of the Indian Muslims, who live in constant fear of the Hindutwa supporters, he added.
Tarar observed that he was delighted to announce the completion of the Aiwan-i-Quaid-i-Azam which is destined to become an excellent centre of communication and will become fully functional by the end of the next month.
MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif observed that the continuity of policies is essential or the progress and development of the dear homeland. Different mega projects that are underway are bound to being success and glory to the people of Pakistan, he added.
“The Pakistan Army, rangers, police and other law-enforcing agencies deserve utmost acclamation for the sacrifices rendered in the line of duty. Counter-terrorism war fought by them is destined to be won very soon,” he held.
The sagacity and far-sightedness of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will conquer all opposition to the development projects including the China-Pak Economic Corridor that is going to open up new vistas of progress for the fellow-countrymen, Hamza said.
Khawaja Saad Rafique observed that the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust serves as a prestigious platform that reflects the light of the ideology of Pakistan in all directions. It gives the lesson of love and commitment to our homeland and envisages Pakistan as a modern Islamic, democratic and welfare state.
“Following the golden principles of faith, unity and discipline, we can surmount any hurdle in the path of progress. Democracy is the only way forward. The four martial laws caused irretrievable loss to the nation. National institutions, journalism, judiciary, establishment and intelligentsia should all work for the promotion of democratic ideals,” Saad added.
Mud-slinging is a nasty practice and must be avoided at all costs. The Quaid-i-Azam obtained Pakistan through a peaceful struggle. Freedom of expression must be honoured and the practice of making a mountain out of a mole-hill must be shunned, he added.
The PML-N leader said: “Positive and constructive criticism is always welcome but political point-scoring is highly undesirable. The task of nation-building requires decades-long span of time. We must do away with the crisis of mutual trust and display patience.”
Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust vice chairman Professor Dr Rafique Ahmad observed that a uniform vision is necessary for the survival and glorification of Pakistan. The entire nation believes in the ideology of Pakistan. The two-nation theory is in evidence in the daily routine of the lives of the Muslims and the Hindus who constitute two entirely different nations. The ideology of Pakistan is, in fact, the ideology of Islam.
The Nation Editor Salim Bokhari observed that it was India itself who had taken this issue to the UN but backed out of all the UN resolutions. The task undertaken by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust should be taken up on the national level to facilitate the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan Movement Workers Trust Chairman Chief Justice (r) Mian Mehboob Ahmad said that the aim of the freedom struggle of Kashmir is to bring about the completion of Pakistan that came into being in the name of Islam.
NPT Coordinator Mian Farooq Altaf stressed the need for eliminating the evils of sectarianism, provincialism and lingualism. The agents of our eternal foe India are misinterpreting the ideas and reflections of the Quaid-i-Azam in order to distort our Islamic identity, he added.
Known industrialist Iftikhar Ali Malik spoke on the subject “The Requirements of Putting Pakistan on the Path of Peace, Progress and Prosperity.” He emphasized the need for providing employment opportunities to the youth of the country, controlling the flow of the population from the rural to the urban areas, focusing on the agricultural field, giving the formers a nice package to boost exports, developing the export marketing.
Pir Sayyed Munawwar Hussain Jama’ati observed that Pakistan came into being through the grace and spiritual dispensation of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The religious scholars and mystics took a fulsome part in the Pakistan Movement. Pir Sayyed Jama’at Ali Shah firmly stood by the side of the Quaid-i-Azam and exhorted his followers to join the Muslim League.
NPT Secretary Shahid Rasheed observed that the Pakistan Movement workers, teachers, intellectuals, scholars, saints, mystics, the office-bearers of the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Forum and delegations from home and abroad are attending this three-day Conference. He warmly thanked all the participants.
Later, Rafique Tarar performed the flag-hoisting ceremony along with the Pakistan Movement workers and Maulana Muhammad Shafi Josh led a session of prayers for the peace, progress and prosperity of the country.