SPGRC to lay siege to Pak HC Nov 16

The SPGRC began a fast unto death programme in the city on Friday demanding a meeting with Shaukat Aziz who came here to attend the just concluded Saarc summit.

Speaking at a press conference at Geneva camp at Mohammadpur, the SPGRC leaders also protested what they said 'sarcastic' remark of Pak envoy in Dhaka who termed the stranded Pakistanis as "Bangladeshi Biharies."

The SPGRC will march to Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka on November 16 to lay a siege to the commission office and register their protest.

In a written statement, committee presidium member Nesar Ahmed said they contacted Pakistan High Commission here for a 10-minute meeting between a delegation of their group and the Pak PM on November 9 but they [high commission] 'bluffed' us on different lame excuses."

He demanded a tripartite meeting to resolve the longstanding issue of stranded Pakistanis and withdrawal of the comments of Pak envoy which he claimed has made the settled issue of stranded Pakistanis a controversial one.

Speaking on the occasion, committee President Abdul Jabbar Khan said, "We have been getting justice from neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan for last 34 years."

"Either give us relief from our confinement or shoot us," he urged both Bangladesh and Pakistan governments.

The SPGRC also demanded of Bangladesh government for immediate restoration of suspended relief, stoppage of demolition of their camps and ensuring safety and security of stranded Pakistanis throughout the country.

SPGRC General Secretary M Shawkat Ali, Vice-president Nezam Uddin Khan, presidium member Md Mahmud Khan and Harunur Rashid were present at the press conference.