SPGRC

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.

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 :

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 of camps is still going on in contravention to govt. orders. A few camps in Dhaka and elsewhere are under constant threat of eviction. Safety and security of Stranded Pakistanis 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

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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.