Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that Pakistan was playing a key role on the diplomatic front among the nations of the world for the establishment of peace.
He said this while addressing a ceremony organised by the Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehreek-e-Pakistan on the occasion of the fourth death anniversary of former president of Pakistan, a devoted worker of the Pakistan Movement, and former chairman of the Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar.
He said that Pakistan came into being on the 27th of Ramadan and, by the grace of Allah,The Almighty, it will remain until the Day of Judgment. He said, “The country’s defence is strong and the world acknowledges Pakistan’s efforts on the diplomatic front.”
The minister said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif not only expressed profound grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, but also condemned his assassination.
He added that all friendly Islamic countries were engaged, including Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan. Pakistan also expressed solidarity with these countries and yesterday the prime minister spoke with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkiye as well.
He said, “Pakistan is playing its diplomatic role in the best possible way.”
As a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan raised the Iran issue, and the Iranian representative in the Security Council thanked Pakistan in this regard.
The federal minister said that credit goes to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his sincere diplomatic efforts.
He added that, under the able leadership of the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Armed Forces of Pakistan proved in ‘Marka-i-Haq’ that Pakistan has the full potential to defend its country. He said that Pakistan has emerged as a strong country in terms of defence and diplomacy. Attaullah Tarar said, “There are only two states that came into existence on the basis of the ‘Kalima.’ “We are committed to continuing to serve this country,” he said.
Regarding the hike in petrol prices, the minister said that it is an international phenomenon that affects all countries. He added that whenever prices rise at the international level, the impact is felt locally.
The information minister said that all-out efforts are being made to provide maximum relief to the people. He said that the country’s political and military leadership were making sincere efforts in the larger interest of the nation. He expressed hope that things would further improve in the coming days.
Attaullah Tarar said that it was an honour for him to speak at the fourth death anniversary ceremony of former president Muhammad Rafiq Tarar. He said that it was the result of the Nazaria-i-Pakistan (Ideology of Pakistan) that today we are enjoying independence. The minister said that there were only two states that came into being on the basis of the Kalima, one is ‘Riasat-e-Tayyaba’ and the other is ‘Riasat-e-Pakistan.’
While shedding light on the life of former president Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, he said that the late Rafiq Tarar followed two ideologies throughout his life, the Ideology of Pakistan and the belief in the Finality of Prophethood (Aqeeda Khatm-e-Nabuwat PBUH). He said that Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was born in 1929 in Peer Kot, adding that he was an intermediate student when Pakistan was being formed.
He joined the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) and played his role in the Pakistan Movement through this platform. He served refugees who had migrated from India and was among the students who used to raise the slogan: “Bat ke rahe ga Hindustan, ban ke rahe ga Pakistan.”
He said the late Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was among those MSF students who were awarded an honorary FA degree for their role in the establishment of Pakistan, as they could not continue their studies during the Pakistan Movement. He said that in 1991, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar obtained a law degree from the University of the Punjab. He added that Muhammad Rafique Tarar had come to Lahore to pursue a degree in Persian literature. Attaullah Tarar said that the late Rafiq Tarar obtained a law degree on the advice of his elder brother and also played a role in the Khatm-e-Nabuwat (PBUH) movement.
He said that in the 1960s, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar became an Additional Session Judge, Attaullah Tarar described it as a fruit of late Rafiq Tarar’s commitment to Nazaria-i-Pakistan and Aqeeda-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat (PBUH), and his service to his parents.
Later, he became a Sessions Judge and served in Sargodha, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, DG Khan, and other areas. Attaullah said it was by the blessings of Almighty Allah and due to the honesty and simplicity of the late Rafiq Tarar that he later served as a Chief Justice of Lahore High Court and a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
In 1997, he was elected as a Member of the Senate and was later elected as the President of Pakistan by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said that the late Muhammad Rafiq Tarar lived a simple life, and when he became president he donated his inherited land to the Punjab government, where a technical and vocational training institute now stands.
He added that before his death, he distributed his Johar Town house among his children according to Shariah. He said that when Rafiq Tarar passed away, there were no worldly assets left in his name.
PML-N leader Sajida Farooq Tarar said that she was fortunate to have spent 40 years under the guidance of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar. She described late Rafiq Tarar as an exemplary father and a symbol of kindness, saying that the family learned much from his upbringing and that his character remains a guiding light for her.
She said, “There is not a single day when she does not remember him.”
She said that whether as a senator, president, lawyer, or judge, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar earned respect and a good reputation wherever he served and always ensured justice for the oppressed. She added that she sees a reflection of Rafiq Tarar in her son, Attaullah Tarar.
Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami said that Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was a virtuous, patriotic, and justice-loving person. He stated that as president, Rafiq Tarar promoted a culture of simplicity. He said the entire life of late Rafiq Tarar was a shining example of honesty, integrity, dignity, and simplicity.
Other speakers also addressed the ceremony. Earlier, prayers (Fatiha) were offered for the departed soul of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar. Muhammad Farooq Tarar, Mian Salman Farooq, Maulana Shafi Josh, MPA Malik Shahbaz Khokhar, Naheed Imran Gill, Prof Abid Sherwani, Saif ullah Chaudhry, Naseemullah Gardezi and a larger number students were also present.Later, the Nazaria-e-Pakistan Trust presented books and a shield to Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar.