‘Events in Modi's India vindicate Quaid’s foresight’

Political leaders pay tribute to Jinnah at celebrations marking 80 years of the passage of Pakistan Resolution

ISLAMABAD: Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had foreseen Hindutwa mindset 80 years ago and that was why he had agreed to support the demand for a separate state in the Muslim majority areas, said Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Monday.

“We should remain committed to Quaid's vision of a tolerant, inclusive, pluralistic and progressive Pakistan,” he said hosting a special function for celebrating 80 Years of Pakistan Resolution.

National Forum Celebrating 80 Years of Pakistan Resolution Chairman Senator Sayed and representatives of political parties were speaking to a jam-packed audience at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) on the theme "A Tribute to Quaid-i-Azam".

Senator Sayed said that what was happening in India today has proven Quaid-i-Azam right as he saw through this bigoted Hindutva mindset and that was why he demanded an independent state for the Muslims.

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Comparing Modi's India with Pakistan, Senator Sayed said that Pakistan today was more inclusive while India has become more exclusive and narrow-minded and while Modi's India was burying the legacy of its founding fathers, it was imperative that Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the Quaid's vision of a tolerant, inclusive, pluralistic and progressive Pakistan.

Paying tribute to the Quaid-i-Azam, he referred to his commitment to the rights of women as well as human rights where he even supported the great revolutionary Bhagat Singh. On women’s rights, he passed legislation on property rights for women. He added that the Quaid-i-Azam had no army, no atom bomb, no establishment support and no big money yet he had character, commitment, leadership qualities and support of the Muslim masses, which enabled him to found the Pakistan State through the democratic process of the ballot box.

Former chairman of Senate Raza Rabbani praised the Quaid-i-Azam for liberating the Muslims from the yoke of Congress domination but he also criticised those elements in the Pakistani state who had tried to censor the Quaid’s teachings to suit their political convenience.

Senator Shibli Faraz, Leader of the House in the Senate said that Quaid-i-Azam was a role model for all Pakistanis and the “Pakistani nation is eternally grateful to him for giving us freedom.”

The Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Chairman Syed Fakhar Imam said that among all the stalwarts of South Asia in the 20th Century, Quaid-i-Azam was the greatest and “we can continue his legacy with the provision of good quality education.”

Former foreign minister and ex-senator Sartaj Aziz who had met the Quaid-i-Azam as a student leader also talked about his recollections about the Quaid's role and the freedom movement. A group of 50 students of the Islamia College University, Peshawar also attended the function on the special invitation and they invited Senator Sayed to host a similar event in Peshawar at their university.

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Sayed accepted this invitation and he announced that the National Forum Celebrating 80 Years of Pakistan Resolution will have similar events in the provincial capitals including the Government College University, Lahore and the Sindh Madrassatul Islam University in Karachi as well.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Raja Zafarul Haq said that the Quaid-i-Azam had a special relationship with Allama Iqbal who was pivotal in bringing him back to India after the Quaid-i-Azam had settled in London and he said that the Quaid-i-Azam had implemented Iqbal's philosophy and vision who also sought a separate homeland for Muslims.

At the conclusion of the seminar, special souvenirs were presented to the speakers. A song in praise of the Quaid was sung by students of Quaid-i-Azam University. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2020.