KARACHI, June 4: The Indian opposition leader, L.K. Advani, who arrived here on late Friday night, visited his alma mater, the St Patrick’s High School in Karachi, on Saturday. The Indian leader, who was accompanied by his wife, Kamla Advani, was accorded warm welcome as he arrived in his school after a visit to the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam.

Speaking to the faculty and alumni, Mr Advani said he believed that attention towards education was the most important thing for a country’s progress.

He was of the view that besides an economic strategy, education and health were the areas to which attention paid by a country could enable it to make the desired headway.

Mr Advani, 78, recalled that his first stint in the government was in 1978 when Morarji Desai was the prime minister of India.

He said then he was given the portfolio of information and broadcasting minister.

Mr Advani told that a cricket match was being played between India and Pakistan at Karachi. The official television of India, Doordarshan, had decided to cover that match live for the first time.

He said when this decision was made he was keen to avail the opportunity to visit his birthplace.

Mr Advani said the government of Pakistan was kind enough to extend an invitation to him to come to Karachi when the cricket match was being played.

The Indian opposition leader recalled that the then Pakistan high commissioner in New Delhi, Abdul Sattar, who later became the country’s foreign minister, asked as to which places he would like to visit in Karachi.

“My reply was that I would like to visit the house where I stayed in Jamshed Quarters and my school, the St Patrick’s School.”

Mr Advani said when he first met President Musharraf in New Delhi the first thing we talked about was that both of us belonged to the St Patrick’s School. He said that during the 45 minutes’ meeting, 20 minutes were consumed in talking about our school.

The Principal of St Patrick’s School, Father Joe Paul, presented the welcome address on the occasion.

Earlier, Mr Advani, while visiting the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam, told reporters that many persons found a place in history but there were very few who actually made history.

Paying glowing tributes to the Quaid, Mr Advani said that the Mohammad Ali Jinnah was one such rare personality who had a determined objective and he achieved that objective by becoming the architect of a new state.

“Therefore, when I came here I felt that I am doing a duty by paying homage to this great, outstanding leader”, he remarked.

Mr Advani recorded his impression in the visitors’ book paying tributes to the great leader of the subcontinent.

Later, he visited the museum located within the premises of the mazar and showed keen interest in the articles used by the Quaid-i-Azam put on display.—APP