British parliamentarian Lord Nazir Ahmad has stated that there is no evidence available which proves that Dr Aafia is involved in the shooting of American soldiers.
Pakistani people should launch a united movement until Dr Aafia, and all the Pakistanis kept as prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay, are honourably released as well as suitable compensation is paid and Americans apologise to Pakistan and the rest of the world.
He was delivering a lecture to narrate his success story in business and politics in United Kingdom, at the Institute of Business Administration in New Campus, here on Friday. Vice-Chancellor Punjab University Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran was the chief guest on the occasion. Director IBA Professor Dr Muhammad Ehsan Malik, faculty members and a large number of students of the institute were also present.
Lord Nazir said although a US court has sentenced Dr Aafia, but morally and politically, they have not been able to sentence her. He observed the western countries are suffering from 'Islamophobia' and pointing fingers at Muslims and Pakistan by criticising Muslim food and culture. Western leaders sometimes resort to anti-Muslim feelings such as banning of veil amongst Muslim women, because this is one thing, which can unite their whole society.
He maintained that there a wave of new prejudice and hate has been unleashed against Islam in the western societies, but it is direly required that we should set our own house in order so as to counter anti-Islam and Pakistan feelings. He said one can easily imagine what sort of image Islam and Pakistan can have in the rest of the world as a result of suicide bombing incidents in mosques and in academic institutions in our country.
He however said administration of justice and provision of equal opportunities for development irrespective of colour, caste creed or family background, is the hallmark of the Western society. This is manifestly clear by the elevation of a Pakistani lady Baroness Syeda Warsi as a cabinet minister who was the daughter of a factory worker, he added. Quoting his own example, he said his father went to UK as a working class member and he himself was the first Muslim to enter the House of Lords in 1998.
He said if someone works a little bit harder and proves his abilities, he never goes unrewarded in a Western country where everyone is treated equal and decision are made on the basis of merit and merit alone. He at these moments made an offer to the Vice-Chancellor to arrange visas for selected PU students who want to visit leading British academic institutions or intend to do internship in his office.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran said the biggest problem being faced by Pakistani nation is deprivation of knowledge and learning. In the present day world, he added, educated and trained people constitute the most precious asset for any country because the survival and progress of nations is dependent upon this vital resource.
Describing the world as an arena in which clash of civilisations is going on continuously, Dr Kamran remarked that if our younger generation equips itself with the knowledge of modern sciences and technology, Pakistan can soon join the fold of leading countries of the world. Earlier, Director IBA Professor Dr Muhammad Ehsan Malik, welcoming Lord Nazir Ahmad told the audience that for the first time, 4 scholars in the history of IBA are doing PhD, out of which 3 are pursuing their PhD in England.
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