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Thursday March 28, 2024

No one can harm Pak-Saudi ties: Shahbaz

Imam-e-Ka’aba asks people of two countries not to pay heed to propaganda

By our correspondents
April 27, 2015
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said no one can harm the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, create differences between them or separate them.
Addressing a function held in honour of Dr Shaikh Khalid al-Ghamidi here Sunday, the CM said the visit of Imam-e-Ka’aba was an honour and blessing for the country. He said Pakistan is like a second home for Saudi people and Saudi Arabia is for the people of Pakistan. He said there are deep-rooted brotherly, spiritual, religious and friendly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia which are unprecedented.
He said Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan and generously helped it in times of floods, earthquakes and natural calamities. Shahbaz said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently visited Saudi Arabia and held meetings with Khadam-e-Haramain Sharifain Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other Saudi authorities. He said the world had witnessed these scenes how the two brothers were meeting and sharing their sentiments of love and affinity and it was a befitting reply to the opponents and the critics.
He said he had also visited Saudi Arabia and held useful meetings with Saudi authorities and talked to them in the manner of the persons of the same family. He said the deep love and respect for Saudi Arabia which is in the hearts of Pakistanis could not be described in words.
Shahbaz assured unconditional support to Saudi Arabia saying in the present situation the question that what role Pakistan could play for Saudi Arabia is meaningless. The CM said the Poet of the East Allama Iqbal had answered this question a number of decades ago in this verse:
Aik Hoon Muslim Harm Ki Pasbani Ke Liye
Neel Ke Sahil Se Lekar Tabkhake Kashghar
(May the Muslims unite in watching over the Shrine,
From the banks of the Nile to the deserts of Kashghar)
He said Pakistan is standing by Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia with Pakistan and there is no need to ask what would be the stance of Pakistan towards Saudi Arabia.
Imam-e-Ka’aba Dr Khalid al-Ghamidi and participants of the ceremony fully supported the stance of Shahbaz Sharif. In his address, the Imam-e-Ka’aba said the verse of Allama Iqbal fully reflects deep relations between the two countries. He said the sentiments and good wishes expressed by Shahbaz Sharif for him are worth writing in water of eyes and not of gold. He said that this affection can never be forgotten by him. Imam-e-Ka’aba said if he wanted to adopt or live in a country or home he will prefer Pakistan.
The CM also talked to Imam-e-Ka’aba in Arabic language fluently upon which he was astonished and appreciated his command over Arabic language.
He said the leaderships of the two countries were committed to the service of Islam. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should follow Quran and Sunnah and not allow the enemies to intervene.
He said it is a fact that the leaderships and the people of the two countries are one soul in two bodies. Imam-e-Ka’aba also appreciated the religious services of Ulema of Pakistan. He said he had also received religious education from Pakistani Ulema and it was a Pakistani Aalim Sheikh Hafeezur Rehman from whom he learnt the Holy Quran by heart.
He said the government and people of the two countries should not pay heed to the negative propaganda. Earlier, when Imam-e-Ka’aba Dr. Khalid Al-Ghamidi reached Model Town, he was accorded an enthusiastic welcome by Shahbaz Sharif. A one-on-one meeting was also held between Shahbaz Sharif and Dr Khalid al-Ghamidi. Various ministers and religious scholars were also present on the occasion.