Quaid-e-Azam & Pakistan

Quaid e Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah- the founder of Pakistan, a nation that gained independence on 14th August 1947, had big plans for this country. Had it not been for the tireless and hopeful efforts of this man, our freedom would not exist today, we would not exist today. 

Our present situation is such that in a so called democratic state today, we are scared to shout out for our rights. Let us have a look at the Quaid’s first presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. This was the address whereby the Father of the nation spoke of the vision he had for the country and the main issues that he wanted the assembly to care for to strengthen the foundation that was to be laid for the country’s first constitution. 

In this presidential address he firstly talks about law and order and specifies that maintaining the judiciary of the country is imperative. 

The first observation that I would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.

Now, if we compare this statement with today’s reality, all we see is the dismemberment of the judiciary, the break down of law and order and absolutely no social security. Pakistan today, is termed as the most dangerous country to live in. 

Today no other country on earth is arguably more dangerous than Pakistan. (http://www.newsweek.com/id/57485)

The next issue that Mr. Jinnah went on to discuss was the vice of bribery and corruption and how he willed it to be flushed out of our people. He termed it as poison. The fact that every newspaper today is discussing the NRO and how conveniently it is being used by the venomous corrupt leaders of our country clearly indicates how closely we are following the vision of our founder.

Black Marketing was the next worst thing on the Quaid’s list who saw it as greater than the biggest and most grievous crimes. He wanted them to be severely punished. Now if one looks at the sugar crisis today and remembers the death of the eighteen miserable women who died in a stampede during a charity flour hand out in Karachi, one can wish for the punishment of those who have formed a food cartel in the country. The cartel controls, regulates and fluctuates the price at their convenience and at the cost of thousands of hungry stomachs. 
http://zoominlocal.com/ml-brampton-guardian/2009/09/17/#?article=542246

Nepotism and jobbery were the next on the founder’s list. He said he would never tolerate it. Today, the entire country is tolerating the legacy of feudal lords passing on their ministries to their children or relatives, husbands replacing their wives in power chambers, employees being hired via connections not eligibility. ‘Sifarish” and “parchi” are the norm now and the vision of those who sit in the Constituent Assembly today-or at least most of them, let’s not generalize. 

The Quaid then went on to talk about eliminating discrimination and promoting equality among the people, for this was the only way to create a happy and prosperous nation. He appealed to the people to bury the hatchets of the past, to abandon their differences and give everyone an equal status and opportunity. 

If you change your past and work together in a spirit that everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges, and obligations, there will be on end to the progress you will make.

Let us bring ourselves to the now. We are a country which is breeding to three types of educational systems: the private schools for the rich and elite, the public schools for the poor and irrelevant and the madrassas for those would want their children to be the next Taliban generation. So we are looking at a country with three sections of the educated population. Then there are the lions of Punjab, the ignored Balochis, the rich Sindhis and the ‘terrorist’ Pathans. Not to forget the Sunnis, Shias, Boris, Ismailis, Hari Pagris, black Pagris and I’m pretty sure there will be more colorful Pagris in the future. 

The speech ended with his take on religion:

Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.

Now Mr. Jinnah was clearly in favor of a secular state. Many agree with this. More do not. In fact I don’t either. But nevertheless the Quaid wanted religious tolerance in this country and with the horric Talibanization in this country, the suicide bombings, the killing of female students-tolerance lives in the land of far far away. 

The Quaid also shared the message that he had previously received from the Secretary of State of the United States. 

On the occasion of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly for Pakistan, I extend to you and to the members of the Assembly, the best wishes of the Government and the people of the United States for the successful conclusion of the great work you are about to undertake.


Now this symbolizes the worth of America’s acceptance of Pakistan as a free and independent state. It extended a hand of friendship and the Quaid endorsed it. But never did he envision the Pakistani president to be endorsing as heinous an American deal as the Kerry Lugar Bill at the risk of handing over what ever was left of our sovereignty and national integrity. 

I once saw an image of the founder on a local magazine called Akhbar e Jahan. He was crying tears of blood. As I read his speech once again talking about his vision for the country, all I can think of are hundreds who die in suicide blasts each day and how he would have cried over their blood.