KARACHI, Dec 6: Glowing tributes were paid to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in a reference organized by the Karachi Press Club on Monday. Ambassador of Palestine Ahmed A. Razzaq El-Salman was the chief guest at the reference where speakers described the late leader as 'a towering icon of freedom struggle'.
Leaders of various political parties, as well as lawyer and journalist communities, eulogized the great leader's services in giving Palestinian refugees a sense of nationhood and standing like a rock against the oppressive Zionist forces.
They noted that the late President Yasser Arafat struggled for half-a-century, and hoped that the new Palestinian leadership would not give up the direction set by him and would take on the challenges ahead.
Arafat, the symbol of struggle; the leader who never compromised on the political right of his people; who led the struggle that put the Palestinian issue on the world map and crystallized the Palestinian identity through PLO against the attempts of accession, dumping and guardianship of the Palestinian cause, they said.
Ambassador El-Salman said that Yasser Arafat was an eternal Palestinian and Arab torch that enlightened the roads of freedom for the next generations which fought hard in resisting foreign invaders.
"He never hesitated in supporting and assisting all causes of freedom fighters throughout the world since he believed that the Palestinian revolution carried a message to every suppressed nation that struggled to attain its freedom and sovereignty against those who were unjust to it so as to destroy the shackles of domination and liquidate foreign occupation.
"Therefore, the suppressed people of the world loved him and respected him. Western nations appreciated his courage and true intentions and his continuous struggle to liberate his nation and establish peace on the land of peace, i.e. Palestine by ridding his nation from the refugee life,'' he added.
The envoy said that Yasser Arafat created a way between the gun and olive branch. "The gun, which converted Palestinian people from refugees to a resisting force for achieving freedom and independence. The olive branch which armed the resistance with a realistic strategy and national programme.''
He said: "Arafat put the gun aside and raised the olive branch for six years hoping to achieve the peaceful form of the struggle, but laid down the olive branch from his hand when they tried to improve a settlement that does not bring back East Jerusalem and that does not dismantle settlements and which does not resolve the Palestinian refugee cause justly and in compliance with International Legitimacy.
His people rose and resisted that policy when the feet of Sharon desecrated Al-Aqsa mosque. Thus, they imposed a siege on him (Arafat) and his people. They practised the policy of killing, collective siege and punishment and destruction of infrastructure of the occupied Palestine.''
Referring to the Palestine elections scheduled for Jan 9, 2006, he said that the polls would need international pressure on Israel to withdraw its troops from the Palestinian territories to their Sept 28, 2000 position and to allow participation of Palestinians in East Jerusalem in the vote.
He thanked President Musharraf for supporting the Palestinian cause. He also thanked the people of Pakistan for expressing brotherhood, solidarity, support and generosity to Palestinian people.
Earlier, Ms Ghinva Bhutto paid rich tributes to Yasser Arafat and his struggle for Palestinian freedom. She recalled that when she was in Lebanon, she had joined in Al-Fatah's humanitarian network, and gradually there was no difference between a Labanese and a Palestinian.
She also regretted that due to their own constraints, Arabs (governments) did not do what they should have done for the Palestinian cause. Ghinva Bhutto also recalled Yasser Arafat's support for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and said the Bhutto family would never forget that.
Mairaj Mohammad Khan traced the turning points in the Palestinian struggle and the crucial role Mr Arafat played as a freedom fighter and a peace negotiator. Deploring the West for labelling Arafat a terrorist and using obnoxious language on his demise, Mr Khan said the West had compelled the Palestinians to take up arms because their independence and rights had been snatched away.
Taj Haider remembered Arafat not only as a fearless freedom fighter but also as a courageous man who commanded his people's respect even when he was not there. Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council Rasheed A. Rizvi said that Mr Arafat was a beacon of light for the emancipated people all over the world and was held in high esteem in Pakistan for his courage. Mr Rizvi also recalled his meeting with Chairman Arafat in Beirut and lauded his determination to carve out a destiny for his people.
Sardar Abdur Rahim said Arafat would live for ever as an icon of freedom struggle and would never die in the hearts of the people of Pakistan. He hoped the new Palestinian leadership would carry forward his struggle.
Kunwar Naveed of the MQM said that in Arafat's more than four decade struggle for freedom for the Palestinians, not only Israel but the US and some other western nations were the biggest impediment. He called for drawing lesson from the struggle of Arafat and put our own house in order so that no one could threaten our freedom.
PFUJ President Ahfazur Rahman paid glowing tributes to the late leader and deplored policies of the West towards Palestinians. He castigated the West's double standards, and asked western media to pick up courage to condemn the policies of their governments which were resulting in killing of innocent Palestinian men, women and children everyday.
KUJ chief Mazhar Abbas said that greatest credit of Arafat was that he gave life to a dead cause and became symbol of that cause by achieving the goal. Arafat was a symbol of struggle, dedication and commitment, he added. Chairperson of the KPC's Ad hoc Committee Nargis Khanum presented welcome address and paid rich tributes to the late Palestinian leader.