The concluding ceremony of All-Pakistan Inter-Collegiate Speech declamation contest was held here today in Lahore under the banner of Bazm-e-Minhaj. Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Chairman of MQI Supreme Council, presided over the last and final session.

In his address, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, head of Awami Muslim League, said that had there been anything called national character, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and Imran Khan would have been in power today. He said that the next turn in power is that of the political leader who has extended his all-out support to MQM chief Altaf Hussain followed by the last stint of Nawaz Sharif in power.

Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, former Punjab Governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar, Jamat-i-Islami leader Dr Farid Paracha and PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur addressed the concluding session of the programme. Senior PPP leader and former Federal Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who was the chief guest on the occasion, reached the ceremony late due to delay in flight.

Qamar Zaman Kaira, while talking to media along with PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur in the central secretariat, said that he would not comment on the speech of Sheikh Rashid Ahmad. He said that PPP considers MQM a political reality of the country, adding that as for as committal of crimes is concerned, only MQM can respond to it. He asked the MQM not to direct its criticism at any particular institution. He said that the law enforcement agencies would raid the places where criminals will be suspected to be hiding. He said that the decision to launch operation in Karachi was taken unanimously by all political forces to purge Karachi of criminal outfits. He said that Altaf Hussain has been supporting military operation, adding that the targeted operations underway in Karachi are being conducted by Rangers. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is producing a breed of educated youth. He said that intellectual and scholarly role of Dr Qadri is praiseworthy.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ghulam Mustafa Khar said that he is seeing an end to politics by the moneyed classes. He said that it is law of nature that nothing remains static or stagnant. Jamat-e-Islami leader Dr Farid Paracha underscored the need of unity within the educated people belonging to middle class and lower middle class to change the pro-elite system and eliminate poverty, ignorance, and terrorism. Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri distributed prizes among the position-holding students in the speech declamation.

Talking to journalists after the ceremony, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that he has been broken for some time, adding that this month and this year is important. He said that Nawaz Sharif always favours his cronies and corrupt people when his end in power approaches. He said that appointment of new High Commissioner in Canada is part of the same tradition. He said that the Pakistani politicians have pockets on their coffin. He said that it is impossible to sell truth in a society of liars. He said that change would not come through speeches and commentaries but by taking to streets. He said that only four people are required to carry one’s coffin that are present in his party. He said that Pakistan is the only country whose political leaders are above 60 years of age.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur welcomed the leaders of political parties on their arrival in the Minhaj-ul-Quran Secretariat. The management of Bazm-e-Minhaj included Dr Mumtaz Hussain Barwi, Kamran Siddique Noori, Sabir Hussain Naqshbandi, Altaf Sultani and Zeeshan Tahir.