I remember when we celebrated Pakistan’s 50th Anniversary in 1997, social media and internet was not as prevalent and the outlets to show love for our country were limited but we did it then. Slogans, vows were same. Country had a lot of promise and under a democratic government, stage was ripe for a boom in the fortunes of our country.
Then came 2007 and our country turned 60. In preceding years, things were actually looking up under a dictatorship (instead of a democracy) until he kind of lost it. But the fervour with which independence day was celebrated was alive and well. Vows were made again and 14th August passed by and unfortunately things were going to get worse in coming years.
Nowadays, country is plummeting under a democratic government. Economy is at its worst. Energy crisis is at its peak in my living memory. Law & order situation is appalling. Even passionate patriots are exploring options to leave country in order to provide their families with a better quality of life.
So, I ask myself; where one can find any cause of optimism for our beloved country that is completing 65 years in next couple of days?
The answer lies in us, within us;
Every year we celebrate Independence Day with utmost passion and love. But I cannot help feel that this year, the celebration is different than the preceding years. There is a desire for change within the segment of the civil society which previously did not care about the way country was being run or was not willing to pay an active part in betterment of our country. Civic sense is gradually increasing and political awareness has improved substantially.
Lets give our celebrations some much needed practical support too. Irrespective of our political inclinations, I strongly believe we all are patriots and can make a difference to our country. Lets do whatever in our capacity to make Pakistan realize its true potential of greatness.
Time to reflect on the past to learn from mistakes and to look forward to the future to set a national goal of cohesion. Time to think what we have is the best we can offer to the world, or is there something that has pegged us down. Time to think are we a crowd or a nation? Time to think if we are a crowd, how to turn it into a nation and if we are a nation, how to turn the nation into the best nation.
**My message to you all is of hope, courage and confidence. Let us mobilize all our resources in a systematic and organized way and tackle the grave issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline worthy of a great nation. **------------------------
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Be a good Muslim and Pakistani. Serve the country to the best of your abilities. Do not be disappointed by difficulties. Remember the three principles of leader of the nation
1. Faith
2. Unity
3. Discipline
we must never forget our past and we must do all we can to work for the betterment of our motherland.
here I would like to add one thing, looking at the ethnic divisions, we usually proudly call ourselves Sindhi/Balochi/Punjabi/ Pathan first,than Pakistanis… the day we start looking at ourselves as **ONLY **Pakistanis, half of our problems will be solved. United we Stay, Divided we Fall!
***“We are now all Pakistanis–not Baluchis, Pathans, Sindhis, Bengalis, Punjabis and so on–and as Pakistanis we must feet behave and act, and we should be proud to be known as Pakistanis and nothing else.”
(Muhammad Ali Jinnah, reply to the Civic Address presented by the Quetta Municipality on 15th June, 1948.)
We should also spare a moment and think about what went wrong, the country which was much more closely knit and united till the 1980's, now seems to be fragmented along ethnic, sects and religious lines.
The main reasons for this as to how I see it is due to the deterioration of economy and long spells of dictatorships. We have lost half our country primarily due to dictatorships and even now the fire of separatism in balochistan and the war engulfing KP/Fata were sown during another dictator.
however bad the democratic rulers who are ruling us presently democracy is the way to go, a couple of transfer of powers and the situation will improve. The biggest example for us in the region is India where there were dozens of active insurgencies which they countered by better economy and democracy.
Guys, lets go back in time and have a look at glimpses of Mr. Jinnah and others who played a very significant role in carving out a new homeland for us.
Pakistan Resolution 1940, All India Muslim league last session was held in Lahore. This is when struggle for Pakistan started in full force, huge crowds gathered in Lahore, where Quaid-a-Azam explained the significance of Pakistan resolution, which was later Passed in Sindh Assembly.
crowds welcoming Mr. Jinnah
The Resolution declared: “No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign”.
further stated, "That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in the units and in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of the minorities, with their consultation. Arrangements thus should be made for the security of Muslims where they were in a minority”
***“The Resolution was passed on March 24. It laid down only the principles, with the details left to be worked out at a future date. It was made a part of the All India Muslim League’s constitution in 1941. It was on the basis of this resolution that in 1946 the Muslim League decided to go for one state for the Muslims, instead of two. ******Having passed the Pakistan Resolution, the Muslims of India changed their ultimate goal. Instead of seeking alliance with the Hindu community, they set out on a path whose destination was a separate homeland for the Muslims of India.” **
Quaid-e- Azam always maintaned that no struggle will ever succeed, without women participating side by side with men**
Mr. Jinnah**:" I have always maintained that no nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men. There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women"
June 3rd Plan, 1947when all the efforts to keep India United failed. British governments convinced India Leader to agree to partition.
this plan was made public on june 3rd. hence, its called June 3rd Plan. birth of Pakistan was almost in last phases.
besides, Mr. Jinnah many other important personalities played a crucial role in Pakistan Movement, the list is long, but some of the important personalities were
Fatima Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, Allama Iqbal, Chaudary Rehmat Ali, Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk Kambo, Abdur Rab Nishtar and Sir Abdullah Haroon.
**
Fatima Jinnah**- She accompanied her brother through out the journey of Pakistan movement, her dedication and selfless efforts for Pakistan are commendable.
*“My sister was like a bright ray of light and hope whenever I came back home and met her. Anxieties would have been much greater and my health much worse, but for the restraint imposed by her”
***Allama Muhammad Iqbal- **he dreamed of a seperate land, and his dream was materialized by Jinnah almost 8 years after his death.
he wrote to Jinnah: *“I know you are a busy man but I do hope you won’t mind my writing to you often, as you are the only Muslim in India today to whom the community has right to look up for safe guidance through the storm which is coming to North-West India and, perhaps, to the whole of India.”
***Liaquat Ali Khan- **he was given the title of Shaheed-i-Millat, known as the courageous, honest and principled gentlemen, he was with Quaid every step of the way. He tried to fill the vacuum after loss of father of nation, he faced loads of difficulties. however, still he made efforts to reduce Pak India tention by signing Nehru-Liaquat pact. he also took steps in consitutional making.
**
Chaudary Rahmat Ali
**known as the author of Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever", phamplet, which gave reasons for the establishment of Pakistan.
He also proposed Pakistan name.
**
Pakistan, a cradle of civilizations, which has been a part of some of the oldest civilizations of the world. Starting from Soan valley civilization (125000 BC), Mehrgarh in Balochistan (7000-5500 BC), Indus Valley civilization (3300-1700 BC) and Gandhara civilization (400 BC). The area forming Pakistan has over the centuries seen countless invasions (possibly the highest in the world).
Now lets discuss the important events leading to the partition of the sub continent:
In 1885 Indian National Congress was formed to further the nationalist cause for the Indian subcontinent. Although there were some muslim leaders within the party but a vast majority of Muslim leaders were sceptical and considered it to be a political entity to further Hindu interests in the event of British withdrawal. Muslims wanted an identity within India, and for that purpose Muslim League was formed in 1906 (in Dhaka) in the aftermath of partitioning of Bengal. The meeting was attended by 3000 delegates, and presided over by Nawab Viqar ul Mulq. The head quarters of All India Muslim League was established in Lucknow and Sir Agha Khan was made the first president.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar made the constitution of Muslim League. Bengal was reunited (due to protests by Hindu groups) in 1911, Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined Muslim League in 1913 and became the president in 1916.
Lucknow pact was inked between Muslim League and Congress in 1916, hence putting aside their differences and unite against the British government.
The main achievements from this pact were:
Complete approval of separate electorate.
Security of Muslim rights and interest.
Muslim League’s separate status.
Increased the fame of Quaid-e-Azam.
Hindu–Muslim unity first and last time.
Jinnah ended his cooperationwith Congress in 1920, when Gandhi launched a law violating the non cooperation movement against the British. Jinnah was also convinced that Congress will renege on its commitment for separate electorate as well which they did in 1928. In 1927, British proposed the constitution of India through Simon Commission but they failed to reconcile the concerned parties. All Parties conference was called in 1928 (in Delhi) which failed, after that two more conferences were held but they were not able to bridge the differences between the two parties.
The name of Pakistan was proposed by Chaudhary Rahmat Ali (in 1933) comprising of P (Punjab) A (Afghania presently Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) K (Kashmir) S (Sindh) TAN (Balochistan).
In 1940 a general assembly of Muslim League was called in Lahore. This was the point when two nation theory was formally presented. On 23 march 1940, Pakistan resolution was moved by Sher e Bengal fazlul haq which was adopted by the party.
The resolution became part of Muslim Leagues constitution in 1941. In 1943, Sindh Assembly passed a resolution for creation of a separate homeland for Muslims. In 1946, Muslim League won 425 seats out of 496 on the slogan of creating a separate homeland of muslims. In 1946, British set up the cabinet mission to finalize the arrangements of transfer of power to India which failed to achieve its objectives. After the failure of the Cabinet Mission, Lord Mount Batten was sent to India to transfer power to India and Pakistan. Finally Pakistan came into being on the midnight of 14-15 August 1947.
