IT is incumbent, on each one of us, to protect MAJ’s legacy and restore his vision of a modern democratic welfare state for all, irrespective of their faith, ethnicity or origin. Pakistan was never meant to be a theocratic state by its Founding Fathers. MAJ supported the Khilafat Movement and opposed oppression by Allied forces after WW1. He believed that “Islam came in the world to establish democracy, to safeguard the rights of the oppressed”. Unfortunately, MAJ died in 1948 and those who succeeded him, were captive to their own agendas. They delayed the formation of a Constitution which he had stressed upon.
As we celebrate our 79th independence day, we must remember, that we owe our existence, free from exploitation and daily harassment, which Muslims living in India have to endure under Modi, to the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal and other pioneers of the political struggle. They were all politicians with intellect and integrity. Ask the Palestinians, the significance of a country or the Muslims of Rohingya.
There was no armed struggle involved, but just a constitutional political struggle led by politicians. The British Colonialists ruled India from 1757 to 1947, with the help of the likes of Mir Jaffar and others. They formed an armed militia, stationed in cantons on periphery of every major city to forcefully crush any resistance. An Indian Civil Service was trained to rule India, collect revenues from the natives for sole benefit of HM Government in London. MAJ had pointed to this as the cancer of corruption which we inherited from British India, while addressing First Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947.
This struggle which started on 30 December 1906 under presidentship of Nawab Mohsinul Mulk and his brother Viqarul Mulk at Dacca (Dhaka) culminated in adoption of Lahore Resolution on 23 March 1940, despite opposition from Unionist Party, which ruled Punjab and scores of other toadies of British Raj, who opposed independence. On 20 March 1940, demonstrations erupted in Lahore between supporters of Allama Mashriqi and Punjab police and a curfew was imposed. Efforts were made by Sikandar Hayat to convince MAJ to postpone his visit to Lahore and the planned meeting at Minto Park. Quaid saw through these intrigues and proceeded with his plan. For any political independence struggle to succeed, it is important that majority living in a contiguous area must struggle.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
