Mr Jinnah had earlier accepted the plan for a united India where the provinces would have autonomy.
LONDON: This is with reference to Basil Nabi Malik’s article of January 17 titled “Jinnah and the religious right”.
Mr Jinnah had earlier accepted the plan for a united India where the provinces would have autonomy. This would have meant a secular united India. This all changed later, after the Congress refused to acknowledge the role and stature of the Muslim League as a party speaking on behalf of India’s Muslims.
The Quaid also wanted Punjab and Bengal not to be partitioned and for them to join Pakistan as undivided provinces. Had this happened, it would have meant a Pakistan were Muslims were around 60 per cent of the population.
All that the Quaid wanted for Muslims was a situation where they would feel secure. To say that Pakistan will be run along Islamic principles is not the same as saying that it will be a theocratic state. What this means is that all its citizens will feel secure and equal and have equality of opportunity.
Shahid Aziz
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2011.
