WHILE addressing the Calcutta Convention on 28 December 1928, MAJ in reply to Jayakar, a leader of Hindu Mahasabha, delivered an articulated reply to accusations. He stated “We are all sons of this land. We have to live together. We have to work together and whatever our differences maybe, let us at any rate, not create more bad blood. If we cannot agree, let us, at any rate, agree to differ”. Quaid stated this in a different context, but it is relevant today to the situation that exists in Pakistan, where polarization and politics of hatred has blinded our thought process. Few misguided elements have proceeded on a path, to further divide this country, through a toxic “Social Media” campaign, sowing seeds of discord.
A web designer from Lahore put fake news on WhatsApp/Facebook that a Muslim British national of Pakistan origin was involved in the fatal stabbing of three minor girls and injuries to 10 others in UK. This resulted in widespread Anti-Muslim and Anti-Immigration riots by right wing white extremists. The frequent misuse of the internet by a few rogue elements, associated with political parties, to spread fake toxic news, against their political adversaries and state institutions, has aggravated this abuse. An unethical brigade of Keyboard Warriors has been created, many amongst them have made it their livelihood. As if this was not enough, few armchair analysts, devoid of any vision, or journalistic code of ethics, have embarked on spreading sensationalism in pursuit of their TV ratings. Most of them are those who have been beneficiaries, of the largesse of a Land Mafia tycoon.
Popularity in politics has no permanence. It is transitional. The only thing that matters is the survival and existence of Pakistan. Lives and safety of over 240Million citizens, is far more important that the egoistic pursuits of few, in this game of thrones. There is no space in democracy for individuals with fascist tendencies, unwilling to engage with political adversaries. Differences exist between political parties and this is part of a multiparty democratic process. Each party has its own respective ideology or manifesto. Those that appeal to the electorate by aiming to achieve a welfare state for all its citizens, survive in the long run. This is what differentiates a democratic system from a fiefdom or oligarchy. In the words of MAJ “Let no logic, philosophy or squabble stand in the way of our coming to a compromise”.
In the January and February 1937 elections to various provincial assembles Quaid’s message of “Unity, Faith and Discipline” was carried to millions of Muslims in every nook and corner. Today we lack all three basics of the motto, he gave to this nation. Personal bickering, jealousies, biases and intrigues amongst men hostage to their insatiable greed, poses a threat to this country. Pakistan is a sacred trust which makes it obligatory on all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, faith or ethnicity, that they must work together and ensure that its economy develops and strengthens, so that we can protect our sovereignty and its territorial sanctity. At times, public discontent with a party at helm, becomes beneficial for the opposition. However, this can be a passing phase. At the end performance and delivery to masses is the deciding factor. Mere resort to political rhetoric or exploiting religion has never succeeded.
Those who have any doubts must look at the unfortunate fate of Muslims, who live in India. Mob lynching of Muslims has become a common feature, when general elections are due. Ask the Palestinians, the significance of a nation state, where they can live with dignity. It is true that there are many issues which confront citizens of Pakistan, and they should be addressed. Priority of every political leader and state funded institution must be to serve the people. It is the tax-payers who fund their salaries. The judiciary has a very important role to play. It is one of three constitutional pillars of state which must be apolitical and give judgment based on laws and the constitution. The welfare of citizens cannot be sacrificed to individual interests, nor for the short-term strategic interests of its former colonial masters and their allies, neither for those, who have pledged loyalty to another state and their constitution. Millions of innocent Muslims were slaughtered while trying to migrate to this country in 1947. Thousands of sons of this soil have offered the supreme sacrifice to defend the geographical sanctity of its borders from the evil designs of our enemies. MAJ’s vision was waylaid and hijacked when martial law was imposed in 1958. MAJ kept a record of all documents. The pre-independence record and documents were secured and maintained by AIML Office Secretary at central office located in Delhi. This complete record for the period 1906 to 1947, was transferred to Pakistan. Syed Shamsul Hassan, former Office Secretary of AIML, has stated that this record was “irreparably damaged after martial law was imposed in October 1958, The Central Office of the Muslim League was sealed. Later on, the entire record was put in bags and dumped on the roof of “Muslim League House” under open sky, as the premises was allotted to Pakistan Insurance Corporation.
I took the matter to the then Foreign Minister Manzoor Qadir, who intervened and the record was shifted to a barrack in the Pakistan Secretariat. It was much later, towards the end of 1966 that it was handed over to the Karachi University”. Efforts were made thereafter, “to restore and preserve whatever has survived the vagaries of nature and human indifference”. Such was the bias of 1958 Junta and the Raj trained bureaucracy towards Quaid. The manner in which they harassed Madre Millat Fatima Jinnah, when she stood up to restore Jinnah’s vision, reflects their venom and vengeance. Enough damage has been done to Pakistan by these men without vision, intellect and capacity to govern. Jinnah Saheb could never have envisioned that Pakistan would become a haven for Land Mafia, who would exercise so much influence in matters of state.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
