'Quaid never wanted Pakistan to be a theocratic state'

Four octogenarians who worked as workers of Pakistan movement under Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said, "Quaid never wanted Pakistan to be a theocratic state but a welfare democratic and Islamic state dedicated to service of the people." Brigadier Salim Zia (Retd), Ms Azra Haq, Ms Jameela Zaid and Ms Zahida Mushtaq who were students in 1947 narrated their reminisces about the partition of India, creation of Pakistan and tragedies of migration from East Punjab to Lahore in 1947.
The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) dedicated to cultural and historic preservation had arranged a story telling session at the Faiz Ghar here on Thursday. Brigadier Salim Zia (Retd), who as a college student had worked day and night as a volunteer along with other students to receive and distribute food and relief goods among the refugees pouring in from India in thousands at Walton relief camp narrated untold stories of barbarism, cruelties and genocide of Muslims in the Indian side of east Punjab.
He said Quaid wanted Pakistan an Islamic and democratic state but not a theocratic state otherwise all the religious parties and their leaders would not have opposed the creation of Pakistan and division of India. The octogenarians emphasised that the younger generation should be thankful for the sacrifices rendered by their forefathers for the achievement of Pakistan otherwise they would have lived as a second class citizens in India forever. During the pre-partition period, Muslims were socially outcast, economically oppressed and politically a minority crushed by the Hindu majority.
They said it was the unbound and unlimited blessings of Almighty Allah that He gave a visionary leader to the Muslims whose integrity was impeccable, determination unshakeable and complete faith in his mission. They said that it is necessary to inform our youth and coming generations about the ideals of the Quaid-e-Azam, and the political, social, intellectual, educational and economic compulsions as well as preservation of Islamic teachings, values, heritage, distinct Muslim identity, that led the Muslims of the Subcontinent to strive for a separate homeland.