Personal collection: Quaid’s rare photographs on display

Crowd gathers to remember Father of the Nation and Father Christmas

KARACHI: Rare pictures of the Quaid were on display at the Ocean Mall on Wednesday evening, while a man dressed as Santa Claus was roaming around the building distributing goody bags to children.

The crowd danced to patriotic songs as the children looked through their gift bags on Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's 138th birthday and Chirstmas. The event was organised at the mall in collaboration with Take II and the Jinnah Society.

The Quaid's grand-nephew and the president of the Jinnah Society, Liaquat Merchant, who was also the chief guest, said that his ancestor's dream and vision had not been fulfilled. "We could not accomplish what Jinnah wanted us to accomplish as a nation," he said. "Religious freedom was one of the main reasons why Jinnah demanded a separate homeland and unfortunately this land is devoid of religious tolerance."



Rare photographs of the Quaid from Merchant's personal collection were on display. The president of Take II, Tehmina Khalid, said that after what took place in Peshawar, the country had to celebrate Jinnah's birthday with modesty because everyone was feeling hopeless. "Society at large has stopped believing in Pakistan," she said. "This is a small effort on our part to revive patriotism."

Singer and actor, Khalid Anum, said that the Quaid's vision had been misinterpreted. "He was a secular man," said Anum. "He [Jinnah] wanted a secular state. Religious freedom is the reason Pakistan was made."

According to writer Rumana Hussain, who was also present at the event, Quaid-e-Azam was a fashion icon.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2014.