THE toxic polarization, intolerance, lack of democratic credentials and absence of ethics in governance, built over past decades, today poses a threat to the very foundations of our federation. Architects of Pakistan, MAJ and Allama Iqbal and others were politicians of integrity and commitment who wanted to create an independent homeland for Muslim majority to live in peace and harmony with members of other faiths in a modern democratic welfare state with a “Constitution” as supreme law. The Quaid elaborated on contours of powers and significance of oath, individuals took on assumption of public office, both paid and elected. Pakistan was not created to be a hybrid democracy, but a nation that was to function as a democratic entity, ruled by elected representatives of people, chosen through direct and free elections.
Jinnah wanted Muslim majority to incorporate Islamic concept of tolerance and justice in the Constitution. They were supposed to be only on One Page, which was to be a Constitution, and every institution of the state was to conform and work within their defined corridors. There was to be no space for intrusion or authoritarian rule, or even an elected populist fascist to be at helm, nor any concocted hybrid schemes like BD, neither the One Page Doctrine that we heard from 2018 and even earlier. Power was to vest with people of Pakistan and their will was to reign supreme. The clergy had no role in political struggle for creation of Pakistan. This is an unfortunate reality, that with a few exceptions, they mostly opposed MAJ and supported the Congress. Maulana Azad was his most vocal opponent.
Immediately after creation of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, Jinnah initiated process of healing by including each and every politician, including those who had opposed AIML, but were elected in the 1945-46 general election and members of all faiths in the First Constituent Assembly. Democracy is an inclusive system. This country needs to consider Truth and Reconciliation process which was adopted by South Africa to heal over 300 years of abuse, denial of basic fundamental rights to black majority by white apartheid regime. In 1990 former President F W Klerk released from prison Nelson Mandela, incarcerated from 1964 to 1982, lifted emergency and started process for a negotiated settlement to end colonialism and apartheid rule in South Africa.
It was part of the negotiated deal to grant general amnesty for past actions, make a fresh start, to restore constitutional rule, with terms of the amnesty to be decided by the first democratically elected government elected in 1994. Members of the civil society, human rights lawyers, religious community, representatives of victims gathered together to establish Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act of 1995 which created Truth and Reconciliation Committee. Nelson Mandela was himself a victim of apartheid. He appointed Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the chair of Commission with Alex Boraine as his deputy. This Commission established acceptance of excesses committed by white apartheid regime, acts of resistance by majority black community, acceptance of their mistakes and an apology.
SA provided the world with a method to build reconciliation in the national interest and heal past bitterness. On 3rd March 2024, following election of 24th PM, the PTI/SIC candidate for PM while speaking in NA stated that “There is something rotten in the system of Pakistan today”. He was quoting Shakespeare’s Hamlet “Something is rotten in the State of Denmark; that one may smile and smile and be a villain”. The bitterness and polarization within political parties, religious groups and members of the paid establishment that threatens Pakistan from within needs healing process.
TRC process is based on whole full truth. Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan was derailed by none other than Ayub Khan and his junta, which included likes of Wajid Burki, and they are primarily responsible for laying foundations of the rot that threatens this country from within. The recent 2024 elections were an expression of anger by the citizens of Pakistan. Establishment of TRC needs to start with events that followed since 1948, when an ambulance carrying MAJ on a stretcher broke down, on 11 September in a hot and humid weather.
MAJ died that night. His sister Fatima Jinnah, who actively participated in the freedom struggle, dared to challenge the dictator in 1965 and restore democratic rule. The elections were rigged and a viscous slander campaign was launched against Madr-e-Millat, calling her a traitor. The elections were massively rigged. FJ later died under mysterious circumstance on July 9, 1967 and no investigations were ever carried out. These are bitter facts. We must not forget the fact, that during Quaid’s lifetime, Ayub Khan was superseded by three officers, junior to him, namely Brig Nazir, Iftikhar and Nasir.
This decision was based on Ayub Khan’s conduct as senior officer-in -charge of the Pakistan contingent of Punjab Boundary Force. The Boundary Force was required to protect Muslim refugees migrating from Amritsar and nearby areas from Sikh carnage and it failed to do so. Ayub should never have been promoted, given MAJ’s reservation, about his capability and his supersession. Ayub Khan revived the British Colonial Raj legacy of allotting state land to himself, which was followed by Wajid Ali Burki, Yahya Khan and many others. We must not forget gift of Ghandhara Motors from the US which he retained for his family, following the Sino-Indian 1962 War, when he chose to disregard advice by China to liberate IOK.
In 1959 the junta offered pledge on Holy Quran to Sardar Nowruz Khan, a Baluch, to lay down arms in return for political settlement of grievances, but then failed to honour the pledge. Seven close relatives of Sardar Nowruz were executed, whilst the over 85-year Sardar was imprisoned for life and he died there at the age of 90 in 1964. This created a distrust which haunts this country till today. As if this was not enough, Sardar Akbar Bugti was killed on orders of Musharraf on August 26, 2006. Healing and self-accountability must begin.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
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