Quaid’s plan Pakistan
We have just celebrated Pakistan Day on 23rd March in commemoration of the resolution passed at Lahore in 1940 in a befitting manner with a magnificent parade attended by many Foreign Ministers who attended the OIC Foreign Ministers conference.
But is this enough? We need to follow and adopt Quaid’s plan Pakistan and the basic structure he elaborated on 11 August 1947 while addressing the First Constituent Assembly.
He further elaborated on this plan on 14 June 1948 while addressing Staff College Quetta. For the past 75 years, various men who lacked the vision and intellect that MAJ possessed, have thrust on this country various plans, with devastating consequences for the country.
We have endured the humiliation of surrender in 1971, witnessed sovereignty of Pakistan compromised by giving sanctuary to extremists and religious fanatics, formation of private militias, getting involved in proxy wars, while the country became hostage to greed of cartels and mafias, benefitting from numerous amnesty schemes.
The conflicts of interests of our paid public office holders, coupled with financial indiscipline has driven this country to the brink of bankruptcy.
Our security and sovereignty hinges on economic self-sustenance and guarding and fomenting nuclear defence deterrence.
MAJ had his finger on the pulse of the people, who in turn had complete faith and trust in their leader.
The Quaid was very clear that the destiny and security of Pakistan was wedded to adopting a constitution to ensure that Pakistan would be a modern democratic welfare State, with power vested in the people of Pakistan.
He emphasized upon justice and equal opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of their caste, creed, ethnicity and sex.
His choice of Jogendra Nath Mandal as the first Law Minister of Pakistan, given the task to oversee drafting a constitution should be enough to convince everybody that this country was never meant to be a theocracy, but a country where the majority Muslims guided by Islamic Jurisprudence and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), will live in peace and harmony with members of other faiths.
Unfortunately, after MAJ’s death, the political process was derailed, martial law imposed, all political parties banned under EBDO and rule of law replaced by authoritarian rule and religion exploited to subvert the will of the people.
Madar-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah was branded an Indian agent, when she stood up to restore MAJ’s vision of a democratic welfare State.
This betrayal of Jinnah’s vision forced the Muslims of East Pakistan, who laid down the foundations of AIML in 1906, to separate from Pakistan.
Pakistan has suffered enough and instead of adopting failed hybrid systems of governance, it is time to adopt MAJ’s plan Pakistan.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
