By:
Alhaj M. Nasim Khan
Leader
of Stranded Pakistanis & Chief Patron, SPGRC, Bangladesh
Assalam-
o – Aliakum- o – Rahmatullah – e - Barkatahu
First
of all I must warmly welcome all of you for sparing your valuable time to
attend this seminar. Thanks to Almighty Allah who enable me to hold this
seminar and despite all odds provided me the opportunity to speak about our
trial of trials and tribulations dating back to 1940 when Pakistan resolution
was moved and adopted.
General
and Political Background
“Men”,
says Joseph Addision, “are subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very
condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not shown evils enough in
life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common
calamity by our external treatment of one another.”
We,
Pakistanis Stranded in Bangladesh, received cruel treatment in 1946 resulting
in aggravation of calamity, in our native provinces in India and again in 1971
we received a still worse treatment in then East Pakistan, resulting in
aggravation of Common calamity, because we fought for preservation of
Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity over its integral Eastern
parts.
In 1946
we suffered because we were Muslim, trying for vivisection of mother India, as
Hindus called it, in 1971 we suffered because we were accused of being agents
of West Pakistan, helping and fighting alongside a virtually West Pakistan Army
to maintain West Pakistan domination over and exploitation of Bangladesh.
Whatever the merit of the accusation that we were acting as agents of West
Pakistan be, the fact remains that we wholly stood by a virtually West Pakistan
Army, locked in sanguinary war with peoples of Bangladesh. This is a bitter
truth and a bitter memory, knowing at the heart of the people of this country,
to whom our presence in Bangladesh in inimical and undesirable presence which
they think they are perforce suffering. There is not much sympathy around, as
it is argued that we have got no more then our deserts, we are regarded as an
irritating reminder of Pakistan’s domination and exploitation in Bangladesh. It
is a tragedy that the Government of Pakistan deliberately yet ignore this
“fundamental reality” about our existence in Bangladesh and take shelter behind
homilies on Islam and Islamic values and virtues, and tries to evade its
responsibility which it owe us in point of law and honour, no less than in the
light of Islamic teaching, precepts and practices.
Pakistan’s
cruel treatment of Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh wholly around it as a moth
around a flame, made more cruel by its element of betrayed, is unique in
History and it has added more grief to grief and has contributed to a lingering
human tragedy more than any other country in this subcontinent.
Problems
of Stranded Pakistanis in the wake of Bangladesh are manifold. Barring some
wealthy and resourceful persons most of us are living in 66 shabby encampment’s
(8 ft. x 8 ft.) and virtual ghettoes, where serious shortage of food and
medicine together with grim physical conditions prevail. All the Muslim
Embassies, including Pakistan have visited our Camps in Dhaka and have seen
things for themselves. We have been deprived of every thing we held dear. There
is no job for us no avenue of employment for our very Urdu.
Urdu
accent is a disqualification, our mother tongue URDU, as dear to us as Bengali
to a Bangalee or Arabic to an ARAB and one of the motive forces of Pakistan
movement has vanished from hall and bower from Court and cloister, from Schools
and Colleges, with the result that most of our children who prosecuted their
studies in URDU have been forced to discontinue their education and polish
boots in the streets or to odd jobs hither and thither. This means one
generation gone. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan who
brought the Muslims of the entire India Sub-continent on one Platform and
welded and moulded them into a Muslim Nation, and inspired us sacrifice our all
for Pakisan, is a forgotten and despised name in Bangladesh, so much so that
Jinnah Hall in Dhaka University has become Surja Sen Hall, although Jinnah Hall
continues to stand in Bombay in full light of the day, 14th of August, on which
day the Muslim State of Pakistan, symbolizing our hopes and aspirations, and
guarantying our language and culture was born, comes and goes in Bangladesh,
unsung though not unwept.
Man
does, not live by bread alone, and it is on such days that we are emotionally
stirred to our very depth and wonder whether we, the Muslim of the Minorities
Provinces of India, now looked down upon as Biharis in Bangladesh were dubbed
and cheated by the leaders of Pakistan movement into supporting the vivisection
of India a support, the Hindus then said would cost us dear. These are
melancholy thoughts indeed, but they keep on coming, inspite of us, forced by
the sense of betrayal of Pakistan’s Government which adds insult to our injury
by harping on Pakistan’s Islamic ideology and the contribution of the Indian
Muslims to the cause of Pakistan. We, Pakistanis Stranded in Bangladesh, are a
miserable lot-Ahead of us, there is nothing cheering or hopeful ; we see
nothing in the future but sickness and sorrow and paralysis or imbecility.
Trouble
Began (1940-46)
I have
seen those, who struggled in his early life for independence of India and then
for the establishment of Muslim States within the Sub-continent. The memory of
those sensational and catastrophe political and economic events yet a float in
my mind and alas ! those who were witness of those tragic phenomena are no more
here. Mr. Fazlul Haque, Mr. Shahid Suhrawardi, Mowlana Bhasani, Mowlana Akram
Khan are no more in this world. I remember the remarkable and eloquent speech
which late Moulvi A.K.Fazlu Haque had delivered at the Lahore session of “All
India Muslim League” while he had moved the historical resolution about
creation of Muslim state, within the Sub-continent. It was he, who, in course
of his speech has said : - “Permit my friends from Hindu majority provinces to
reiterate what I said some month back in Patna. I repeat then here just to make
my assurances to you doubly sure and also to ask the Congress Government to
take note of that I say here “though I am leading a coalition Government in
Bengal, I am Muslim first and Bengali afterwards.” I too follow the same. I am Pakistani
Muslim first and then any thing.
y
The
delegates representing Muslims of minority provinces were not ready to second
the resolution as it was known to them that if Pakistan is created, the Muslims
of majority provinces will be benefitted and Muslims of minority provinces will
have to remain like slaves. Consequently, the resolution was hung in balance
because of non-support of delegates of Muslims of minority provinces who were
out and out and reluctant to support it. The whole subject committee and the
leaders of majority provinces were at a fix as they could not decide what to do
and what not to do. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah came forward and tackled
the situation by assuring the delegates of Muslims of minority provinces and
thus paved the way or adoption of Pakistan Resolution on 23rd March 1940 at
Minto Park in Lahore.
The
Muslims of minority provinces had to sacrifice a lot. The famous book “Bihar
Tragedy” written by Barrister Aziz-e-Millat is self-explanatory on the matter.
When Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jannah visited London he took about 1000 copies
of the book and distributed among members of British Parliament. The killings
in Calcutta had its repercussions in Noakhali when in October 1946 in a
communal riot some Hindus and members of a Zaminder family were killed there.
The news spread like wild fire and Calcutta press media mostly controlled by
Hindus produced all kinds of fabricated, motivated and imaginary stories
dumping the Muslims. Consequently the trouble began to spread all over India.
Thousands of innocent Muslims in Bihar, men, women and children were butchered
almost every day. Thousands of women were gange-raped, even pregnant women were
not spared. Gandhi was the then in Calcutta on his way to Noakhali. At that
time there was no trouble in Noakhali at all. Some Muslim youths met him in
Calcutta and requested him to visit Bihar to see the carnage for himself but he
declined to do so. However, at the cost of millions of lives of Muslims and
after great trial and tribulation Pakistan came into existence on 14th August
1947.
Pakistan
Era (1947-1971) :
To
substantiate my aforesaid statement I quote from the very first Eid message of
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah delivered on 18th August 1947 from Karachi .”
Let us not, on this occasion, forget those of our brethren and sisters who have
sacrificed their all, so that Pakistan may be established and we may live. We
fervently pray that their souls may rest in peace and we shall never forget the
memory of those who are no more and those who have suffered. For many, Eid will
not be an occasion of such great joy and rejoicing as in Pakistan. Those of our
brethren who are minorities in Hindustan may rest assured that we shall never
neglect or forget them. Our hearts go out to them, and we shall consider no
efforts too great to help them and secure their well-being, for I recognize
that it is the Muslim minority provinces in this Sub-continent who were the
pioneers and carried the banner aloft for the achievement of our cherished goal
of Pakistan. I shall never forget their support, nor I hope the majority Muslim
provinces in Pakistan will fail to appreciate that they were the pioneers in
the vanguard of our historic and heroic struggle for the achievement of
Pakistan, which today is an accomplished fact”. Alas ; with the death of
Quaid-e-Aznam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1948 all his saying were also buried. The
rulers and politicians and muslims of majority provinces did not appreciate the
pioneering role of minority muslims and betrayed with them.
Drop
Scene of Pakistan and Emergence of Bangladesh (1971-1988):
Pakistan
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her Home Minister Mr. Nasirullah Baber had
said in recent statements that Stranded Pakistanis had come to Bangladesh to
settle. No, not at all, for Stranded Pakistanis had come to settle not in
Bangladesh, but in Pakistan which meant a definite ideology and which ensured
full flourishing of their language and preservation of their culture. It is
true that Stranded Pakistanis had set foot on the soil of East Pakistan but
East Pakistan was as much a part of Pakistan as Punjab or Sindh or Baluchistan
or NWFP and has the same thinking, the same ideology, same national heroes, the
same national flag and the same National Army. To say then that East Pakistan
and West Pakistan were integral parts of Pakistan, but people migrating to East
Pakistan were different from the people migrating to West Pakistan is a
remarkable piece of reasoning. It is pershaps this very mentality which is
responsible for the destruction of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a country entirely different from West Pakistan, its former part.
It has altogether a different ambiance and is a new world altogether. It takes
pride in December 16 whereas Pakistan takes pride in August 14. It is also
incorrect to say that Bangladesh is former East Pakistan, for although the
territory is the same, Bangladesh by an armed struggle took over not the
province of East Pakistan, as it then was, but dislodged the central authority
of Pakistan in East Pakistan. It should also be remembered that when Stranded
Pakistan’s migrated to East Pakistan, East Pakistan was not a country but a
province or wing of an ideological homeland named Pakistan and was
internationally recognized as such.
Issue
of Repatriation :
The
problem of Stranded Pakistanis is absolutely a legal one. Apart from any other
consideration, the problem is one of Pakistan’s honour and moral integrity, and
the fundamental question is “Should an honourable country, with honourable men,
betray a people who consistently supported its policy, right since its creation
in 1947, including that on the sensitive National Language issue and whom
Pakistan, to quote the Minority Rights Groups, London Report, “used as a
spearhead of their policy in Bengal” and who - despite every conceivable danger
to their life and property like a rock, stood by Pakistan in its darkest hour
of need in 1971 when an armed and well-organized struggle for its dismemberment
ensued.” On what principles of justice and fairplay can Bangladesh be asked to
take the burden of 2.38 lakh Stranded Pakistanis, who at Pakistan’s inspiration
and instance, opposed the very creation of Bangladesh, and lent the Pakistan
army all out support they could muster. It is the height of cruelty and
cynicism to say that Bangladesh should take care of those who opposed its very
creation and who frankly speaking have no heart in this country. He must be a
very dishonourable man , indeed, who will think or argue that Pakistan is no
longer responsible for Stranded Pakistanis because it doesn’t need them any
more.
Plea of
Islam :
The
Plea of Islam is hardly available to oblige Bangladesh to take responsibility
of those unfortunate and ill-fated Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh. After
all, Pakistan is also a Muslim country nay, an Islamic State now. Why should
not then Pakistan be responsible for these people who speak the same Language
like Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and other Pakistanis in Pakistan and who are
attuned to the people of Pakistan in all respects, and whose misery and
suffering is due to their championing Pakistan and its cause all through its
history. Bangladesh has not committed any crime by being a Muslim country. So
why must it be punished and be forced to accept the responsibility of these
people who are suspect in the eyes of the people of this land who speak a
different language and have a different culture. Besides, if the concept of
Islamic brother-hood has any value in real life and inner state relationship,
it is Pakistan rather than Bangladesh that should be responsible for us because
it is an Islamic obligation of a better placed Muslim brother to relieve the
burden of his less prosperous brother, and Pakistan is certainly better placed
than Bangladesh, as it has a territory five times greater than Bangladesh and
has a much better developed socio-economic infrastructure. There are enough
land and natural resources in Pakistan to accommodate these people. The
argument of Islamic brotherhood therefore does not help Pakistan in any way and
it stands quite illogical and unethical.
Economic
- social Infrastructure :
Again,
shelter and job for everyone in Pakistan is no doubt a noble idea. But has the
Govt. of Pakistan any legal obligation in this respect to any of its citizens?
Can it claim that it has made sure that Pakistani, whether by birth or by
migration, has a shelter and a job? May be, the Govt. of Pakistan provided some
land and money to those who arrived in Pakistan from Bangladesh but does its
amount to say that Pakistan has made sure that each such one had a shelter and
a job? It is a tall claim not even made by advanced countries of the world. No
country in the free world, however noble its ideal is under any legal
obligation to guarantee shelter and job to its citizens. It just tries to
provide shelter and job to its people, that is all. The argument that every
Stranded Pakistanis must have a job to support himself is an attempt to evade
the issue. It is no secret Pakistan is amongst the poorest countries of the world
and even in the case of other Pakistanis it can not make sure that every one of
them has a house to live in and a job for his survival. So how can it make sure
that we the Stranded Pakistanis shall be entitled to better rights, house and
job to support themselves? “This is a classic example of killing a cat by
trying to choke it with cream as the phrase goes”
Delhi
Agreement :
y
Now let
me say a few lines about the much talked of Dehli Agreement of 28 August 1973
which Pakistan regards as a holy and sacred document from which it claims, no
departure is permissible. The awful majesty being attached by Pakistan Govt. to
the Delhi Agreement is comprehensible in as much as the power of former
President Ziaul Haque to do or undo anything in Pakistan had been limitless and
unbounded, and there was no reason why he did not scrape this unworthy document
as he has scrapped the most important and sacred document, viz. Constitution of
1973. Any way, by Delhi Agreement of 1973, it was agreed to repatriate “a substantial
number of non-Bengalis” from Bangladesh who have opted for Pakistan with ICRC
(International Committee of the Red Cross) in 1972-73 in exchange for the
Bengalis in Pakistan and the return of Pakistan POW’s ( Prisoners of War) and
civil internees in India.
Bangladesh
like a manly nation expressed its readiness to receive all the 1,280,000
Bengalis who had opted for Bangladesh. Pakistan, perhaps because it was a
defeated nation could reciprocate a similar moral courage and displayed an
opportunists mentality, unchanged till to-day, and when it was prepared to
accept initially only 83,000 men – 58,000 military personnel, former civil
servants and members of “Divided Families, plus a maximum of 25,000 hardship
cases”. Frankly speaking Pakistan had never seriously thought of implementing
the Delhi agreement either, for, it was only interested in repatriation of
POW’s and civil servants and as soon as these military men and servants reached
Pakistan, it started resorting to various tricks to make repatriation
impossible. Differences arose over the interpretation of central government
employees (Railways) and “Divided families” and “Hardship cases”.
Rabita
Agreement & Survey and Photography of Stranded Pakistanis (1988-1992)
Thanks
to Almighty Allah Late President Ziaul Haque realized the legality of our
problem and decided to repatriate all Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh. His
Govt. signed an agreement on 9th July 1988 in Islamabad, with Rabita Al Alam
Islami resulting in formation of Rabita Trust. There is a proverb, “Man
proposes God disposes”. This came to be true when Ziaul Haque died in a
mysterious plane crash on 16th August 1988 along with senior officers of
Pakistan army. With his death the whole issue once again went to cold storage.
We continued our struggle and tried to convince the rulers of Pakistan the
genuineness of the issue. We regard this agreement as the sacred document
because based on this a fresh survey of Stranded Pakistanis and their Group
photography was completed in March 1992 by Pakistan High Commission in
Bangladesh in Joint collaboration of Rabita Al-Alam Islami and SPGRC (Stranded
Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee). It was a comprehensive survey and
the figure of Stranded Pakistanis stood at 2.38 lakh. When Begum Khaleda Zia
visited Pakistan in August 1992 an agreement was signed with the then Govt. of
Newaz Sharif as it was reflected in joint declaration of 12 August 1992, which
envisaged clearly that Stranded Pakistanis would be repatriated in phase-wise
and the first phase of 3,000 families would be airlifted by end December 1992.
But Pakistan Government again started its hotch potch policy and maintained a
complete silence on the subject rather postponed its programme of airlifting of
3,000 families. I had no option but to go for self-immolation to create
pressure on both Govt. of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Finally on 10th January 1993
a batch of 53 families comprising of 325 persons were repatriated to Pakistan.
All of them have been rehabilitated in Miah Chunnu in Punjab. Despite all
promises and assurances the process could not start as was expected. It seems
once again it is hanging in balance.
Present
Position (1992-96)
Pakistan
has failed to respect the Rabita Agreement, rather it has been citing lame
excuses. The Govt. of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto sometimes terms it the
responsibility of Muslim Ummah, sometimes socio-economic problems and sometimes
expresses her apprehension because of unseen political factors. Their attitude
towards us is quite lamentable. Bangladesh has also its share of
responsibility. Time has come it has to take a firm stand on our issue and open
its mouth. It must tell Pakistan in clear terms that Bangladesh can not
indefinitely bear the burden of 2.38 lakh Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh for
the last 25 years.
Role of
UN and other International forums:
It
pinches my heart to find that International agencies like UNHCR, UNICEF also
lagged behind and miserably failed to contribute to mitigate our sufferings. We
take this opportunity to appeal to all international bodies including UN
agencies, OIC, NAM, SAARC & ASEAN to rise to the occasion and come forward
to help rescue these ill-fated above quarter million Stranded Pakistanis,
irrespective of their political belief from the shadow of death and destruction
for the sake of service to humanity.
Miserable
Life Of Stranded Pakistanis and Role of NGO ‘s:
Now a
few words about our miserable lives and condition of camps scattered all over
Bangladesh. Since inception of camps in 1972 neither repair nor reconstruction
has been done by the Govt. or any NGO . Bangladesh is a land of NGOs where more
than 1200 national and international NGOs have been working in different
sectors. No NGO turned ever to Stranded Pakistanis to help them despite the
fact we have been leading miserable lives in camps in sub-human condition. It
is only Rabita, IIRO and Concern who did some thing for us with their limited
resources. I strongly protest against this negative attitude of all N G O ‘ s
and hope they would change their policy towards Stranded Pakistanis – who are
the most oppressed class of humanity of this century. Most of the camps, today
are in a deplorable condition and call for immediate attention of the
authorities concerned. We live in camp like miniatures in a sub-human
condition. There is neither privacy nor secrecy of life. All camps lack in
basic amenities. For instance in Chittagong, Sardar Bahadur Nagar Camp, there
is no supply of drinking water. It has now turned in a Karbala. Some camps lack
in electricity, in some camps electricity had never been provided. Eviction and
demolition is also threatened by vested quarters. Reference may be made to
stabbing of Shamim Ahmed who succumbed to his injuries on 2 June last year just
for resisting the eviction of D-Block Relief Camp at Mirpur, Section XI.
Conclusion
:
Before
I conclude and take leave of you, I must thank you whole heartedly for gracing
this occasion with your august presence. It would be a sheer dishonesty if I
don’t thank Sheik Rahmatullah Nazir Khan, Regional Director, IIRO, Dhaka who
have been kind enough to give his consent to assume the chair of Chief Guest. I
also thank Mohtaram Mujibur Rahman and Mohtaram A.F.M. Yahiya for delivering
marvellous speech outlining different aspects of the issue of a repatriation in
the backdrop of socio-political and geographical and historic facts. I am
indebted to brother Mir Quasim Ali, Director, Rabita, Dhaka who helped me a lot
in organising this seminar. I am thankful to all of my colleagues, workers and
Stranded Pakistanis in general who contributed their mite to make the seminar a
success.
Alhaj
M. Nasim Khan
Leader
of Stranded Pakistanis & Chief Patron, SPGRC, Bangladesh
_______________________________
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE
While
preparing the speech the following books and documents have been studied and
consulted for reference. Their names are enlisted below for reference.
1. The
spirit of Modern Politics – by Md. Ibrahim (Wali)
2.
Speeches of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammaed Ali Jinnah.
3. A
Political Study of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. (Foreword written by Khawja Nazimuddin,
ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan)
4.
Bio-graphy of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. (Foreword written by Khawja Nazimuddin,
ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan)
5
Tragedy of Bihar – by Barrister Aziz-e-Millat.
6. The
Sad Plight of the Biharies (Stranded Pakistanis) from 1971-83. By Honorable
Syed Hossain Imam – Ex-President of the Council of States of India. Member,
Working Committee & Parliamentary Board, Ali-India Muslim League, Oldest
Parliamentarian of Indo-Pak Sub-continent, Ex-President Bihar Provincial Muslim
League.
7. From
the memories of several meetings in August 1991 with Late Moulana Zafar Ahmed
Ansari, Assistant general Secretary, All India Muslim League and one of the
close Associates of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the First Governor
General of Pakistan and Liaquat Ali Khan the First Prime Minister of Pakistan
as well as great sympathiser of Stranded Pakistanis.
8. Sir
Ali Iman, Bar-at-Law (in Urdu) - by M. Anisur Rahman, Advocate, Karachi.
9. The
Fall of Dhaka – by Siddique Salik.
10.
Innumerable Magazines and Periodicals and Publications of our organizations.
11.
Iqbal, The poet and the politician - by Rafiq Zakaria.
ISSUED
BY : STRANDED PAKISTANIS GENERAL REPATRIATION COMMITTEE - (SPGRC) - GENEVA
CAMP. MOHAMMADPUR, DHAKA, BANGLADESH.
এই মন্তব্যটি একটি ব্লগ প্রশাসক দ্বারা মুছে ফেলা হয়েছে।
উত্তরমুছুন