The nation, is celebrating today the birthday of its Father, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to pay well-deserved tributes to him for his selfless services for the just cause of the South Asian Muslims and deploying his prodigious political and legal acumen to mount an unremitting struggle for the creation of the new State of Pakistan.
This year the day is being celebrated by the people amid their genuine deep and touching sentiments because of many national crises, including the brutal acts of terrorism and internal and external threats to the country.
All nations pay rich homage to their heroes to mark their outstanding services but for us, the services of the undisputed leader of the South Asian Muslims, M.A. Jinnah, have special significance as it was entirely due to his commitment, selfless services and dynamic leadership, supplemented by valuable sacrifices of the Muslims that Pakistan emerged as an independent and sovereign State in the comity of nations within an incredible period of only seven years after the passage of historic Lahore resolution, later known as Pakistan Resolution, by the All India Muslim League at its 27th annual session on 23rd March, 1940, in Lahore amid great enthusiasm.
The Founder of Pakistan, who discarded his worldly comforts, worked day and night and guided his people aright at every step, saved them from many a pitfall and led them to a victory, through his single-minded devotion to the cause of their freedom.
What really motivated Quaid-i-Azam to struggle so resolutely for the just cause of the Muslims was his abiding concern for the political, social, cultural and economic future of the Muslims, who had reposed implicit trust in his ability to deliver. As a renowned leader of the people, the Quaid showed keen perception of the mass mind and impulse as well as shrewd insight into political moves and diplomatic manoeuvres.
Our most revered leader was a pillar of moral strength having far-reaching vision, indomitable spirit, a steely determination, an unflinching resolve and steadfastness of purpose. We pay homage to him for his personal virtues, resolute will power; incorruptibility, force of character, magnetic personality, unflinching, dedicated and determined efforts to promote the cause of the Muslims of South Asia and making the State of our dreams and turning their hope into reality.
In the political annals of the South-Asian Sub-Continent, Muhammad Ali Jinnah towers above his contemporaries. He was a pillar of moral strength, an apotheosis of probity in public life, which he regarded as a trust never to be betrayed. He doggedly defied the insidious, wasting disease and continued to bend his declining energies to the Herculean task of resolving the formidable problems confronting the fledgling state.
A renowned historian Stanely Wolpert, commenting on the Quaid`s great historical role, says" few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three."
Quaid-i-Azam`s health was not well when Pakistan came into being but in spite of that he devoted his all energies and endeavoured day and night for the development and prosperity of the country It would be a matter of public knowledge that from the 1930s till his death he had to fight through bouts of illness. He never let his periodic illness dampen his spirit or weaken his resolve and determination.
The Quaid had not only been a leading politician, legislator and lawyer but he was also a great man, who stood for humanism, the basic decencies of life and a socio-economic pattern in which the masses would have a fair deal. The Quaid throughout his life held the cause of the Muslims dear to his heart and remained deeply concerned about their deplorable plight. He gathered them under one flag of the Muslim League and steered their ship in the rough seas of politics to safe shore This fact cannot be denied that had the Muslims of India not had a leader of his stature, they would not have been able to throw away the yoke of slavery and remained the slaves of Hindus after the departure of British.
Quaid-i-Azam`s vision of Pakistan was underpinned by Islamic values such as universal brotherhood and equality of man regardless of caste, creed or gender. He devoutly wished to see both Muslims and non-Muslims as equal partners in the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. He wanted the people to shun differences, intolerance, bigotry and obscurantism. He said "you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in the State of Pakistan".
Quaid-i-Azam was practically a peace-loving man and hated disturbances of communal nature. Peace was his motto and whatever he did, he did for peace and betterment of his countrymen. He was very fair and honest in his political dealings. He did not believe in lip service and his deeds matched his words and he never said anything which he did not mean. The Quaid displayed his greatness when before leaving Delhi for Karachi on 7th August with his sister Fatima Jinnah, he had wished Hindustan peace and prosperity, urging that past be buried and start afresh as two independent sovereign States of Hindustan and Pakistan.
His greatest strategic triumph was his successful handling of the situation, arising out of the British action in bypassing the Muslim League and installing the Hindu congress in power at the Centre in 1946. This was contrary to all the assurances given to Muslim India in successive announcements of British policy in 1940, 1941, 1942 and even the latest assurance by the Cabinet Mission in 1946.
Even after the achievement of a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia he did not sit back but continued to his last breath, his untiring and unceasing work to strengthen and consolidate the country, making it one of the greatest nations of the world.
The Father of the Nation in his speeches, statements and messages to the nation on different occasions had been laying special stress on strictly maintaining discipline and unity for furthering the national cause. He wanted to build Pakistan through national self-discipline and regarded indiscipline as "more deadly than our external enemies, which would spell 'ruin for us'." The Quaid desired constructive efforts, selfless work steadfast devotion to duty and wanted every Pakistani to vow to himself and be prepared to sacrifice his all, if necessary, in building up Pakistan as a bulwark of Islam and one of the greatest nations.
The Founder of the nation wanted the constitution of Pakistan to be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam - equality, justice and fair play. He saw the opposition role in democratic order as a bulwark against tyranny, saying an opposition party or parties are good corrective for any party, which is in power. He said at a public meeting in Dacca on 21st March, 1948, that constitutionally it is in your hands to put the government in power or remove the government from power, but you must not do it by mob methods.
Addressing the students of Islamia College, Peshawar, on 12th April, 1948, he advised them "now that you have achieved your goal, there is a government of your own and a country which belongs to you and in which you can live as free men, your responsibilities and approach to the political and social and economic problems must also change. The duties required of you now are: develop a sound system of discipline, character, initiative and a solid academic background."
Addressing the Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947, Quaid-i-Azam had emphasised that "now if we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, especially the poor" M.A. Jinnah had desired that each one of us should realise the great ideals of human progress, social justice, equality and fraternity, which constitute the basic cause of the birth of Pakistan and also the limitless possibilities of evolving an ideal social structure of our State.
While thanking the Members for electing him President of the Assembly, he underscored the imperative need of framing a constitution for Pakistan enshrining such ideals and immutable values as equality, justice, fair-play, rule of law etc.
In a broadcast talk from Radio Pakistan, Dacca, on 28th March, 1948, Quaid-i-Azam had stressed that "cohesion and solidarity amongst all citizens of the State are, from whatever part they may come, is essential for its progress, nay for its very survival. Pakistan is embodiment of the unity of the Muslim nation and so it must remain. That unity we, as true Muslims, must jealousy guard and preserve. If we begin to think of ourselves as Bengalis Punjabis, Sindhis etc first and the Muslims and Pakistanis only incidentally, then Pakistan is bound to disintegrate".
The Quaid emphasised that Pakistan was not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. He devoutly wished to make Pakistan "one of the greatest States in the world", progressive, economically vibrant, and cherishing democratic ideals. He regarded it as a sacred duty to alleviate the poverty of the masses and was implacably opposed to making rich richer and the poor poorer.
He had impressed upon the students that "our duty to the State often demands that we must be ready to submerge our individual or provincial interests unto the common cause for common good. Our duty to the State comes first; our duty to our province, our district, our town and to our village and ourselves comes next".
Addressing the Gazetted Officers in Chittagong on 25th March, 1948.the Quaid had made it clear to the Government officers that "you do not belong to the ruling class; you belong to the servants. Make the people feel that you are their servants and friends, and maintain the highest standard of honour, integrity, justice and fair-play. If you do that, people will have confidence and trust in you and look upon you as friends and well-wishers".
Addressing Sibi Darbar on 14 February, 1948, Jinnah had said "let us lay the foundations of our democracy on the basis of truly Islamic ideals and principles. Our Almighty has taught us that our decisions in the affairs of the State should be guided by discussions and consultations".
Quaid-i-Azam in a statement on 24 August, 1947, said he wanted that Pakistan should be absolutely kept free from disorder because the outbreak of lawlessness is bound to shake its foundations and cause irreparable damage to its future." Let me warn the Muslims to be aware of their enemies, who do not wish well to Pakistan and would not like it to grow strong and powerful. In fact they would like it to be destroyed at its very inception and will welcome nothing better than that widespread disorders should break out within its borders, thereby causing administrative dislocation and impeding the work of regeneration and reconstruction". But he made it clear that those who unwisely think that they can undo Pakistan they are sadly mistaken.
In the past the political leadership could not evolve a coherent and consensus-based political order and failed to create a sense of political participation and socio-economic equity among various segments of population and regions.
Pakistan would not have experienced a total internal breakdown in 1971 and other political setbacks. If the political leaders had worked towards building consensus on the operational norms of the political system by taking into account socio-economic diversities and respected the principles of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law. They disregarded the these norms, shied away from holding fair and free elections and failed to create a federal system based on equitable sharing of power and mutual accommodation.
In view of the geo-political situation, current wave of terrorism, regional crises, and machinations of internal and external anti-Pakistan elements against the national security, it is high time to make united , determined and courageous endeavours and let all the state institutions, including the judiciary and media, to play their due role for national prosperity and further strengthening its defence.
A nation needs constructive work, not confrontation as it expects from the elected representatives to embark upon a realistic and welfare-oriented work to fulfil the commitments made before the elections as already vast time has been wasted in prolonged political wrangling. They aspire that all the State organs, including the Government, legislature and judiciary as well as the media perform only their respective functions competently, credibly, compassionately for ensuring stability, peace, security and national development.
The government and the opposition benches are part of the democratic process and it is their joint responsibility to strengthen democratic institutions and work in unison for a prosperous and stronger Pakistan as envisioned by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ai Jinnah. The people are experiencing the hard fact that their leaders even after more than 62 years of the creation of Pakistan are still to achieve the goals of economic growth, provision of basic needs of life to them and removing ignorance and poverty from the country.
The political leadership and concerned forces must ensure that such a situation, which caused separation of Pakistan's Eastern part on 16th December, 1971, is not created and everybody, including Provinces, minorities and other sections of our society are given their due rights. We have to strive hard and ceaselessly by strictly following the Quaid`s slogan of unity, faith and discipline to make Pakistan a strong and dignified nation as envisioned by its Founder.
We all, especially political leadership, must set aside their differences and unite for best national interest. Pakistan's long-suffering people deserve a genuine politics that goes beyond slogans and functional attempts to secure personal interest. We need accountability and an end to corruption, which has greatly weakened our national economy and made us dependent upon international financial institutions and States, which are subjecting us to different pressures for the attainment of their objectives.
It would be a realistic approach in the national interest as per democratic norms if the Government makes the parliament a forum to thrash out all national issues, and the treasury and the opposition direct their leaders to avoid giving irresponsible, provoking and contradictory statements so that hopes of reaching accords on the issues are not frustrated. This is most urgent need of the hour as terrorism, violence and corruption are eating into the vitals of Pakistan and stand in the way of national economic development.
Pakistan came into existence as a result of successful democratic and constitutional struggle of the Muslims of South Asia against two imperials, British and Hindus, and its creators had sacrificed their all for the just cause so that their future generations could lead their lives in a fully independent State.
It would not be wrong to stress that Pakistan was not created to openly submit to the pressure of the external forces and cater their vested interests at the cost of its security and national interests. Quaid-i-Azam had not envisioned that our rulers would bring Pakistan to such a state of affairs that would endanger its sovereignty.
The Father of the nation was sworn in as the first Governor-General of Pakistan on 15 August, 1947. The Quaid, son of Jinnah Poonja, a Khoja Muslim of a mercantile family of Rajcot, was born on the 25th December 1876 at Wazir Mansion, Karachi. He died on 11 September, 1948, and his mortal remains are enshrined in a grand mausoleum in Karachi.
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