Pak- Morocco Friendship

Pak- Morocco Friendship

The Kingdom of Morocco was regarded as a French colony during the era of French domination. It was during this period that the struggle for independent Morocco had commenced under the leadership of late Mohammed V, grandfather of the present day monarch of Morocco, King Mohammed VI of Morocco. In 1952, during the sessions of the UN Security Council in New York, a prominent leader of the Moroccan Liberation Movement and Leader of Hizb-Istaqlal, Mr Ahmed Abdul Salam Balfarej was sent to UN by the late King Mohammed V to attend the session. Mr Balfarej was denied the right to speak for Morocco’s sovereignty by the French representative to UN. The French took the stand that since Morocco is a French colony hence Mr Belfarej was prohibited to address the UN session on this platform.

The first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Sir Zafar Ullah Khan, was also present at the session representing Pakistan. He was offended by the ill treatment of a Muslim brother by France and he instantly ordered the Pakistan Consulate in New York to issue a Pakistani Passport to Mr Ahmed Abdul Salam Balfarej and given him an opportunity to speak from Pakistan chair. Mr Belfarej addressed the UN from this forum as a Pakistani and the whole world came to know the plight of Moroccans under French rules.

The struggle for independence gained momentum. On 28th August 1953, late Mohammed V was exiled to Madagascar. The struggle, however, persisted. Sustained national pressure forced his return back to Morocco on 16th November 1955. The untiring struggle ultimately yielded fruitful results. Morocco at last got indepencece from France. King Mohammed V then nominated Mr Ahmed Abdul Salam Balfarej as the first Prime Minister the Kingdom of Morocco.

Mr. Rizwan-ul-Haq the Ambasador of Pakistan to Morocco after 56 years of Morocco’s independence presented a copy of this Pakistani passport to Mr Ahmed Abdul Salam Balfarej who was stunned to see the copy of the passport which played significant role in Morocco’s independence.

When I was appointed as Hon Cosul General of Morocco by the Kingdom of Morocco I was able to obtain the copy of Mr Belfarej passport from Embassy of Pakistan in Morocco as shown.

Note: Extracted from the column titled 10th Enthronement of H.M. King Mohammed VI written by Mr Ishtiaq Baig for Jang dated 19 August 2009