Jinnah’s Pakistan: Where Has it Lost?

Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Students: Let me give you this word of warning: you will be making the greatest mistake if you allow yourself to be exploited by one political party or another

Had Jinnah been alive today, would he have been steering Pakistan to really a progression that he intensely yearned for? I often think about Pakistan from this perspective. Then mostly I am persuaded by my own sense of judgment and justice that had Jinnah been alive today, yes, Pakistan would have been, at least, a country of people espousing the unity, faith and discipline in its true spirit. It does not necessarily mean that Pakistan would have been like as happy and jolly as a sandboy, and that there would have been no obstacle on the road to progression. Problems are naturally constitutional for individuals and for a nation. But Jinnah, really-truly, would have shown her second, and perhaps most dearest daughter, Pakistan, a direction had he been alive today.

From the common people to students and politicians, yet army, the unity, faith and discipline of Jinnah is scarcely seen. Who, in literal sense, talks about bringing back Jinnah’s Pakistan in the midst of national turmoil? Among the lot of the mainstream politicians, I can see not a single one who is a stern advocator of Jinnah’s principled political system. Instead, the de facto “national interest” and “doctrine of necessity” is inundating in the political culture and social system of Pakistan. The version of “Quaid” has taken a new shape which highlights the personality cult factor sweeping over the people’s conscience. From the students and youth, by and large, what I see is the obsession with the party politicking. While reminding myself the message of Jinnah to the students, I found him cautioning the students to not exploit themselves by one party or another. The actual message of Jinnah to the students was delivered on March 21st, in Dhaka. He said:

“My young friends, students who are present here, let me tell you as one who has always had love and affection for you, who has served you for ten years faithfully and loyally, let me give you this word of warning: you will be making the greatest mistake if you allow yourself to be exploited by one political party or another…. Your main occupation should be – in fairness to yourself, in fairness to your parents, in fairness to the state – to devote your attention to your studies.”

For the politicians, Jinnah was emphatic of the idea that elected leaders must realize their obligations and liabilities in a prudent way. During the Presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 11th August, 1947, he said:

“The first and the foremost thing that I would like to emphasize is this – remember that you are now a Sovereign Legislative body and you have got all the powers. It, therefore, places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decisions.”

To the armed forces, Jinnah’s message was quite clear and well-defined briefly. On August 14th 1947, he addressed the armed forces of nascent Pakistan, saying:

“Do not forget that the armed forces are the servants of the people and you do not make national policy; it is we, the civilians, who decide these issues and it is your duty to carry out these tasks with which you are entrusted.”

Today, Muhammad Ali Jinnah only lives in the books and portraits. How sad it is that his depiction is used – on notes – to gratify our appetite as well.

To bring back Jinnah’s Pakistan, we must come out of our shells of idleness. On this decisive phase today, happen as well to be the 14th August – the 64th Birthday of Pakistan, we be forbidden to wait for a wake-up call from our affiliated political parties or groups or other mentors. Jinnah’s amount of supporters were little than Congress activists but his supporters were sincere. The advocators of Jinnah’s principled politics are maybe little, but they should be sincere likewise – followed by the unity, faith and discipline – in order to bring back the Jinnah’s Pakistan which was meant to be sovereign and not protectorate, which was meant to be progressive and not regressive, which was meant to be united and not divided.

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Missing Persons Protest

A friend asked me: Hum itney na-shukrey kyun hain?

Why are we so unthankful?

At first, I thought it was a usual comment by him we often use in daily life. But soon I analyzed he was talking about “Pakistan” particularly. I retorted that we really are unthankful — an unthakful nation. Perhaps he daresaid, while making this comment, that I’m always cynical with my thoughts; that I’m critical and pessimistic. I wonder where have I ever been pessimistic. Being critical doesn’t necessarily imply that a person is pessimistic too.

Most of the time I’m vocal about the role of our army and politicians. While I criticize our Pakistan army — mind it that I don’t criticize the whole institution with more than 600,000 servicemen, but only the wrong policy makers — people usually think that I’m committing a blasphemy as I’m speaking against the sacred Pakistani institution which is meant to guard our nation. I always think and ask is the army above criticism? How many times this institution has erred and repeat it still; hence, speaking against it is wrong?

It pulls me back to the time of Jinnah. Jinnah was selected for the Central Legislative Council from Calcutta as a Muslim representative in 1910. Lord Minto supported Jinnah. Viceroy Minto’s pious hopes were soon shattered. Jinnah clashed with the viceroy the very first time when he rose to speak in the council, addressing him to a resolution that called for an immediate end to the export of indentured India labors to South Africa. Jinnah spoke out saying: “It is a most painful question — a question which has roused the feelings of all classes in the country to the highest pitch of indignation and horror at the harsh and cruel treatment that is meted out to the Indians in South Africa”. Minto reprimanded him for using the words “cruel treatment”. Jinnah spoke out saying: “It is a most painful question — a question which has roused the feelings of all classes in the country to the highest pitch of indignation and horror at the harsh and cruel treatment that is meted out to the Indians in South Africa”. Minto reprimanded him for using the words “cruel treatment”. Minto deemed Jinnah’s statement “too harsh to be used for a friendly part of the British Empire” within his council chambers. My Lord, Jinnah responded, “I should feel much inclined to use much stronger language. But I am fully aware of the constitution in the Council, and I do not wish to trespass for one single moment. But I do say that the treatment meted out to Indians is the harshest and the feeling in this country is unanimous.”

Jinnah was the only men who stood for such an act of unjust against the people of his country. By then, not even Gandhi raised this objection or anyone else from the Congress. Because Jinnah always stood for the human rights too, and he would never care if he’s speaking against the friendly British Empire or his Congressmen. Is speaking against the cruel policies of army/intelligence on the missing persons — and as I recall the death of one of my personal friend’s mother in Bajaur air strike and 100’s of innocent people like her — an amoral thing, I ask? Is speaking against the role of US in many things — for example the drone attacks that kill innocents daily — a wrong thing, I ask? Any missing person has a right to be prosecuted in the Pakistani courts — morally and constitutionally. But they just remain ‘missing’, let alone their prosecution. Simultaneously, I’m accused of being a traitor as I stand firm besides the families of those who suffer from the hands of some amoral uniformed and non-uniformed people.

Now with the latest update on the efforts of the families of missing persons: aggrieved families of missing persons few days back launched a long march from Faisalabad for the safe recovery of their dear ones with solemn pledge to enter Islamabad with five million registered followers for staging a sit-in.

According to the sources, only the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is supporting this long march. Why just PTI, why not the MQM, PPP, PML-N, PML-Q, ANP, JUI etc. etc.? I stress on the significance of the cause of “Missing Persons” and urge every political party’s activist to support this cause and participate in the long march. Raise your voice. Please, this doesn’t have anything to do with your political party’s affiliation. Anyone with a flesh heart is morally obliged to support this cause — before it gets too late. Support the 100’s of families of missing persons (788 cases registered with “Defence Human Rights Pakistan” alone, whereas the estimate according to International Human Rights group is not less than 10,000) by standing against the unjust and amoral acts of those who are accountable for adding miseries to the 100’s of families, simultaneously adding the miseries to already troubled and miserable Pakistan. It reminds me of the words of Martin Niemoller — a leader of one of the German group opposing Hitler and Nazis.

First they (Nazi) came for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then… they came for me… And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

Jinnah – The movie

I downloaded the movie “Jinnah” yesterday and planned to watch it as soon as I’ll get time. Today, after coming from uni – I had nothing much to do. So, I thought to watch the movie like a shot – in spite of the fact that I’ve already watched that movie once long back when it was released.

I turned on the movie and started watching. The beginning was good – the movie was quite enough to make one overenthusiastic. As being a patriotic and nationalist – I was stirred and evoked with emotions. Overall, the movie was great. Some of the dialogues and talkses were great which we commonly encounter while reading the history of Pakistan.

There was an argument amongst Quaid-e-Azam and Lord Mountbatten about the creation of Pakistan – where Mountbatten enounced that I’m a representative of King Emperor. Reciprocally, Quaid-e-Azam responded, “Whom we respect (aiming towards the ‘King Emperor’) And I’m here as a representative of Muslim Nation whom you must learn to respect!!” That was a top-drawer reply by Quaid-e-Azam.

At some occasion – a lunch Quaid-e-Azam and Fatima Jinnah with Lord Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten, Mountbatten says, “King called me and said, “Go to India and give a way” And after that, Fatima Jinnah replies, “Can’t you give a way what really never belonged to you.” — Again a brilliant response!!

At another event – Liaquat Ali Khan brings some scandalous letters between Lady Mountbatten and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to Quaid-e-Azam. Quaid-e-Azam, the man of principles and dignity articulates in a wonderful way. He says, “History is made by the wills and wounds of millions of people – not by the letters for blackmailing purpose.” That was an howling reaction by Quaid-e-Azam. Excellent!!

In today’s politics – we see this trend is a lot more usual. The opponents of other political parties are always in hunt of pulling the legs of their opponents. The use crummy negative techniques to slander their opponents by embroiling opponent’s families, personal lives etc. That’s way too bad. The founder of our Nation – Pakistan – never ever followed this. He reacted harshly yet with Liaquat Ali Khan when Liaquat Ali Khan tried to tell to Quaid-e-Azam to use those scandalous letters for the sake of Pakistan. *Salute* to the man of principles who never used it. Quaid-e-Azam could have used those letters which would have solved a few issues in a trice. In any event, he never did!!

Now where are we heading towards?? What are we doing?? What are we – ourselves up to? We’ve stooped to such a level of ignominy that even the thing which is called ‘a basic sense’ has stopped working. Sad – but yet true!!

In another event – when someone brought with a news to Quaid-e-Azam that Maha-Raja of Kashmir has made up his mind to join India – Liaquat Ali Khan who was sitting along with Quaid-e-Azam exclaimed, “Mountbatten is coming today at Lunch and I must slap him.” For that, Quaid-e-Azam responded superbly and said, “We must learn to rise above these differences, Liaquat.” — Merely a wonderful response!!

During the last hours of movie, Quaid-e-Azam proclaimed:

“If we want to make this great state of Pakistan happy and prosperous – we must concentrate only and solely on the well-being of the people. You’re free .. free to go the Mosques, free to go to your Temples, and to any other place of worship in the state of Pakistan.”

I wish we all open open our eyes and see what history says – what those great leaders did – what those great leaders followed – and what made them great?? Principles – and honest dedications!!

We must subdue the things and thoughts – the awry thoughts – we’re poured into. Rise .. Rise .. Rise Pakistanis and make nation proud of you – the nation for which your forefathers fought down to see it as a greatest nation in the world!!

Pakistan Zindabad – Pakistan Paendabad. Long live Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

May Allah bless Pakistan. Aameen!!!