The nation is paying tributes today to its Father and most revered, beloved and undisputed leader, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, on his birthday. He was born on this day in 1876 in Karachi.
It was entirely due to his commitment, unflinching and determined efforts, iron will, steadfastness, wisdom as well as dynamic, charismatic and gigantic leadership that the Muslims of South Asia achieved an independent and sovereign State of Pakistan on August 14, 1947, within seven years of the adoption of Lahore Resolution, following successful culmination of their historic struggle for a separate homeland.
The freedom from colonial rule and establishment of Pakistan was our most outstanding, vital and historic achievement, which marked the end of 350 years of British presence in South Asia, commencing with the establishment of East India Company in 1600. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, throughout his political life advocated the cause of the Muslims strongly and eloquently, tried to improve their lot and gathered them under one flag of Muslim League. However, the sound principles of governance, keeping national interest upper most than provincial, regional interests and the traditions of selflessness, honesty and integrity, left behind by the great leader, regrettably have not been followed by the vested interests and self-seeking ruling elite to the national detriment. The nation, which is deeply pained to watch current deplorable environment of lawlessness, acts of terrorism, corruption, political chaos as well as external and internal dangers to its sovereignty, is absolutely justified to express their sentiments that this is not that strong and vigorous Pakistan as envisioned by the Quaid.
He was a modern, enlightened and pragmatic statesman, whose vision of Pakistan was underpinned by Islamic values such as universal brotherhood and equality of man regardless of caste, creed or gender.
It is pertinent to recall some of sayings of the great leader, who had gifted us a complete Pakistan and always held the cause of the Muslims dear to his heart. He had forewarned in a statement on the 24th of August, 1947 that Pakistan should be kept absolutely free from disorder because the outbreak of lawlessness is bound to shake its foundations and cause irreparable damage to its future. The Quaid had also warned the countrymen 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 rather like to see it destroyed and widespread disorders within its borders, thereby causing administrative dislocation.
The Quaid, on another occasion, had advised us that "we can look to the future with robust confidence provided we do not fritter away our energies in internal dissensions. There never was greater need for discipline in our ranks. It is only with united effort and faith in our destiny that we shall be able to translate Pakistan of our dreams into reality."
Quaid-i-Azam, in his first address to the Constituent Assembly on 11th August 1947, had emphasised that we must relentlessly put down the biggest curses of bribery and corruption, black-marketing, nepotism and jobbery and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people.
Jinnah was a great political strategist, constitutionalist, a distinguished parliamentarian and one of the great nation-builders of modern times. He was not only a great leader and founder of Pakistan but he was also a great man, endowed with a character free from blemish, and he personally followed a highly disciplined regime of life. The architect of Pakistan, who had to fight thorough bouts of illness from 1930s till his death on September 11, 1948, never let his state of health and periodic illness dampen his spirits or weaken his willpower and determination to uphold the cause of the Muslims.
The Quaid never cared for difficulties and impediments and carried forward the nation with him and realised the dream of the great poet-philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal who had provided us the concept of Pakistan in his monumental presidential address to the 21st session of All India Muslim League at Allahabad on 29th December 1930. Allama Iqbal, who gave us ideological exposition of a state, based on nationalism, and taught us how to uphold self-respect and national honour, was so much appreciative of Jinnah that he impressed upon the Muslims to join the Muslim League and strengthen his hands. He firmly believed that only Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a political leader capable of fulfilling the League's objectives of Muslim political empowerment, drawing Indian Muslims to the League and maintaining party unity before the British and the Congress.
Quaid-i-Azam was also deeply concerned about the Muslim world causes, especially the Palestine question and played an important role in their struggle. He wanted to establish a strong bloc; consisting of all Muslim states of the world, to see that they were united under the banner of Islam as an efficient bulwark against the aggressive and evil designs of their enemies.
In an Eid message, Quaid-i-Azam said: "My Eid message to our brethren Muslim states is one of friendship and goodwill. We are all passing through perilous times. The drama of power politics that is being staged in Palestine, India and Kashmir should serve an eye opener to us. It is only by putting up a United Front that we can make our voice felt in the councils of the world."
Quaid-i-Azam gave open support to North African Arabs in their struggle to throw off the French yoke. He, therefore, provided all possible diplomatic assistance to the liberation movements in Indonesia, Malaya, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria and Algeria.
He vehemently opposed the partition of Palestine and condemned the establishment of Israel as a dagger in the heart of the Arab world. He said: "I do still hope that partition plan will be rejected, otherwise there is bound to be the gravest disaster and unprecedented conflict. The entire Muslim World will revolt against such a decision. Pakistan will have no other course left but to give its fullest support to the Arabs and will do whatever lies in its power to prevent what in my opinion is an outrage."
In an interview with a BBC correspondent on 19 December 1947, the Quaid said" our sense of justice obliges us to help the Arab cause in Palestine in every way that is open to us." In his telegram on December 24, 1947, to the King of Yemen, Imam Yahya, in reply to his telegram of thanks for Pakistan's support to Arabs on Palestine issue, the Quaid reiterated his assurance that Pakistan will stand by Arab brethren and do all that is possible to support them.
In 1937, Quaid-i-Azam in his Presidential address at the League session stated the question of Palestine has moved the Muslims all over India most deeply. Britain has dishonoured its proclamation to the Arabs, which had guaranteed them complete independence for the Arab homelands.
Again in his presidential address to the 26th session of the League held at Patna in December 1938, the Quaid stated, "among the immediate issues we have to grapple with is the question of Palestine. I know Muslims will not shirk from any sacrifice if required to help the Arabs who are engaged in the fight for their national freedom."
In the course of his Presidential address at the historic Lahore session of the League in March, 1940, Quaid-i-Azam said the Muslims wanted "that the British government should in fact and actually meet the demands of the Arabs in Palestine. Addressing the Aligarh Muslim University Union on 9th March 1944, the Quaid hoped that "the US will revise their attitude toward Palestine. He warned that "if President Roosevelt, under the pressure of the powerful World Jewry, commits the blunder of forcing the British government to do injustice to the Arabs in Palestine, this would set the whole Muslim World ablaze from one end to another".
In 1945, in a telegram to Prime Minister Attlee, the Quaid said, "President Truman's reported Palestine immigration proposal is unwarranted, encroaching upon another country, monstrous and highly unjust. It is my duty to inform you that any surrender to appease Jewry at the sacrifice of Arabs would be deeply resented and vehemently resisted by Muslim world and Muslim India, and its consequences will be most disastrous."
While concluding I would like to express my view that if the Quaid`s grand vision is to be realised, the nation will have to galvanise itself into action for it is only with unremitting vigour, unity, renewed commitment and unwavering dynamism that we can make his dream come true. We will have to mobilise all our resources in a systematic and organised way, and tackle the current grave national issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline.