Speakers at the meeting of Shura Hamdard Karachi chapter declared that the political narrative of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was his speech of 11 August 1947, which was his policy statement too, in first Constitutional Assembly of Pakistan and following this narrative in letter and spirit country could find its way out of the prevailing quagmire of socio-economic and political problems. The meeting was held recently on the theme: “Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s political narrative and present political situation”, presided over by Justice (Rtd) Haziqul Khairi at a local club.
Speaking on the occasion, the guest speaker, Sirajuddin Aziz said that Quaid-i-Azam didn’t believe in orthodoxy and we should portrait him as he was, as he was not captioned adequately and being dubbed on two extremes, depriving nation from the good impact of his blessed personality. He had attributes of a man of ‘honesty of purpose’, ‘impeccable character’, and ‘law-abiding’, if these his qualities were highlighted and propagated in the nation, it would have put positive effects on Pakistani politics that got rotten with corruption and money making malpractices, he added.
Quoting many examples from Quaid’s life, he said that Quaid-i-Azam always respected law and never even thought to break a law, he was so honest in his law profession that he refused to accept extra fees after winning a law suit. Quaid was so sensitive for public money that he stopped to serve tea at cabinet meetings, he maintained.
Justice (Rtd) Haziqul said that Quaid was so honest that even strong adversaries of Quaid didn’t raise finger against his integrity. The correspondence of Iqbal and Jinnah revealed that Iqbal had deep longing for Muslims of subcontinent so he gave the concept of separate homeland for them, but he never talked about an Islamic state as movement for separate country was the battle of obtaining political rights for Muslims, he asserted.
Maj. General (Rtd) Sikandar Hayat was of view that Pakistan was the eighth wonder of the world, created by an extraordinary energetic man who worked for Pakistan like a jinni, talked about Islamic social justice and stressed upon equal rights for every Pakistani.
Mrs. Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan said that Quaid-i-Azam had made it very clear that minorities of Pakistan were also equal citizens of the country and to safeguard their rights, lives and properties was the sole responsibility of the state.
Prof. Dr. Akhlaque Ahmed was of the view that present Pakistan was not that Pakistan the Quaid had dreamed of as he wanted Pakistan to be an enlightened, upright and dutiful nation.
Brig (Rtd) Riazul Haq said that Quaid-i-Azam was an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity, but when he saw that the majority did ready not to give political rights to Muslim minority he demanded for a separate homeland for Muslims and achieved that.
Col. (Rtd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt said that the great sacrifice made by the Quaid was that he kept secret his fatal disease and tirelessly worked for the creation of Pakistan, notwithstanding his doctor’s advice to take rest. But after his demise the feudals and generals captured the power and spoiled the country which was made with great sacrifices, including the exemplary sacrifice of Quaid, he maintained.
Sheikh Usman Damohi said that we delinked Quaid from religion, although he made this country to establish Islamic system, based on socio-economic justice of Islam.
Prof. Dr. Tanvir Khalid was of the opinion that we should take guidance from Quaid’s political narrative, highlighted in his speeches and make country according to his wishes.
Engineer anwarul Haq Siddiqui, Zafar Iqbal and Ibn-ul-Hasan Rizvi also spoke.