Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair, who is also the chancellor of public sector universities of the province, has appreciated Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh for writing a fantastic book on Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which, he said, will immensely help the younger generation to understand the life and struggle of the founder of Pakistan.
He expressed these views addressing at the launch ceremony of 'Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah: Taaleem, Johd-e-Azadi aur Kamyabiyan,' an Urdu translation of Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh's book, held at inner courtyard of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) on Saturday evening.
"In an age, when there is a lack of quality research work in the country, the book is based on good research that depicted real life of the father of the nation and conveyed the message of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah to its readers," he said, adding that being the head of the alma mater of the founder of Pakistan, it was part of Dr Shaikh's responsibilities to write such a wonderful tome given the fact that most details about the Quaid were available with the SMIU.
Mohammad Zubair said that he was undergoing a feeling full of emotions, which was mainly because he was at the school where Quaid-e-Azam had studied and he was talking on a book written on his life and times.
He said Jinnah had wanted a liberal and tolerant Pakistan, where all citizens irrespective of differences of ethnicity and religion could live, amicably and peacefully. "Today we also need a liberal and tolerant country as dreamed and desired by the Quaid-e-Azam."
He said there was no ambiguity in the mind of Quaid-e-Azam about the political system to run the country. "He clearly wanted a parliamentary system in Pakistan on the pattern of the British parliamentary system." He said Jinnah was the best parliamentarian and democrat who believed in the supremacy of the parliament. He said that made him the undisputed leader of all communities of the then-undivided India. He said, apart from a great politician, he was a great lawyer, as well. Had he given more time to his profession, which he had left after returning from England in the middle of 1930s, he would have been among the greatest lawyers of the region, Zubair said.
Sindh Governor believed Pakistan was destined to progress and prosperity despite facing multiple problems and challenges. He hoped political process of the country should continue uninterrupted.
Earlier, author of the book, Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh, in his welcome address spoke on the need of writing that book threadbare. He said that when he went through a variety of biographies on Jinnah, including the books of his sister Fatima Jinnah, Mohammad Ali Siddiqui and others he found certain wrong narratives especially regarding the history of his time spent on education.
"Some of them said that he had passed his matriculation examination from the Sindh Madressatul Islam in 1887, which was not correct. Such basic errors compelled me to correct the history with the help of the record that was available at SMI," said Dr Shaikh.
He further said he also went London to get the education record of Jinnah's education at Lincoln's Inn. "In a textbook in Sindhi published in 1948, it was mentioned that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born in Jhirrak, now part of district Thatta," he said, adding, to keep all these things correct with clear perspective along with some other things in my mind I decided to write a book especially for the youth to give them correct life account of founder of Pakistan with the support of his rare pictures. Dr Shaikh said Jinnah belonged to an underprivileged family, but later he became one of the rich persons of the region through his perpetual struggle and hard work.
Wusatullah Khan, a prominent columnist, said it was high time to seriously think why Pakistani youth had got alienated and why "we have failed to run the country according the thoughts and vision of Quaid-e-Azam." He said people of Pakistan have to make the country as visualized by Jinnah, especially, in light of his speech delivered on 11th August 1947, four days before the creation of Pakistan. He congratulated Dr Shaikh on writing a good book on Jinnah.
Dr Mohammad Ajmal Khan, vice chancellor of the University of Karachi, said he had read the book in a single sitting and found it fascinating and informative. He said he perused such a good book after a long time. He said its Urdu translation is marvelous, which makes him happy. Congratulating the author he said it was the right time to write such a book on Jinnah because the younger generation needed such literature the most. He said that Quaid-e-Azam was a great leader; which was the reason that millions of people trusted his words despite not knowing his speeches in English.
Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat, vice chancellor of the University of Sindh, said Dr Shaikh had written a most valuable, informative and educative book, which would be helpful especially for the young generation and inspired them for getting engaged in positive activities. He said, in the 21st century, history writing was a job to do with immense objectivity contrary to the past. He said history was a science, thus, it should be based on facts and Dr Shaikh had written the book keeping those tools in the mind. Professor Khalida Ghous said Dr Shaikh had beautifully knitted the facts related to the life of Jinnah. She proposed the book should be taught at the university level in the country.
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