KARACHI: Ahmed Moh­am­madi, the new consul general of Iran in Karachi, said on Friday night that he would do whatever he could to promote the cordial relations between the two ‘brotherly countries’ of Iran and Pakistan.

He was speaking at a programme held to mark the 38th anniversary of the Iranian revolution.

He said he was elated that he was beginning his first working day as the CG here on such an auspicious day. The day also coincided with the fresh restrictions slapped by the Trump administration on Iran over its recent missile test.

Mr Mohammadi said the aim of the revolution was to rid the nation of the despotic and unjust rule of the Shah and free the country from foreign interference as Iran’s decisions were made in some other capitals rather than in Tehran.

He said following the revolution the people of Iran suffered a great deal of hardship because of hostility of certain countries. “Among other things, an eight-year-long war was foisted on Iran through Iraq and harsh sanctions were imposed on the country,” said the CG while speaking in Persian accompanied by an interpreter. “Now we have gradually overcome the adversities and the nation is on its way to progress and prosperity. And if you look at the region, Iran is the most peaceful country.”

Both Shia and Sunni scholars at the event, held at the Iranian culture centre, recalled how Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini tried to promote sectarian harmony by declaring that the revolution led by him was an Islamic revolution and not a Shia one. At the outset of the programme the national anthems of Pakistan and Iran were played and the audience stood up as a mark of respect.

JUP-N leader Syed Aqeel Anjum praised Ayatollah Khomeini and his followers who brought about the Islamic revolution after immense sacrifices. He said among the ‘54’ Muslim states only Iran was blessed with a successful Islamic revolution and consequently an Islamic and democratic set-up was in place to govern the country. He said at heart all Muslims wanted a revolution to establish an ‘Islamic state’ in Pakistan, but few were ready to struggle and make sacrifices for it.

He wished that Iran play a leading role to bring about peace in the Middle East.

Asadullah Bhutto, a deputy emir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, recalled how Maulana Maudoodi supported the revolution in Iran. He said the Maulana sent a delegation to Iran to congratulate Imam Khomeini on the success of the revolution.

Allama Razi Jaffar Naqvi, who introduced himself as an ‘adna sa’ student of Imam Khomeini, briefly narrated the events that led to the revolution. He said back in 1962 when someone asked the Imam where his army was that he depended on for a revolution, the visionary said they were in their

mothers’ laps. And the same generation grew up to make the revolution happen.

The event was interspersed with quizzes and playing of video clips depicting the situation before the revolution.

Allama Iqbal’s poetry came handy to both the moderator and the speakers to spice up their speeches. A group of girls and boys from a school presented a beautiful song in Persian.

Earlier, Mohammad Raza Baqri, the director general of the Iranian Cultural Centre, spoke in Persian, which seemed Turkish to most of the local audience — Zaban-i-yaar-mun Turki O mun Turki namey daanum, as the saying goes. So they were seen chatting among themselves or moving in and out of the hall.

Published in Dawn February 5th, 2017