Side-effect The writer is a poet and author based in Islamabad. I am afraid it was not Maulana Abul’ala Maudoodi or Mufti Shafi Ahmed Usmani who founded Pakistan. It was Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Likewise, at a personal level they may instruct their religious followers on which ritual to perform and which sin to avoid but as a nation it cannot be Dr Tahirul Qadri or Maulana Tariq Jamil or Allama Talib Jauhari who will tell us how to organise the value system of our society and how to lead our public lives as citizens of the state. Again, we will refer to the founding principles of the state and society professed and practised by the Quaid himself when we seek to regulate the Pakistani society and its institutions. How pitiful and ironic! We are seeing a time when the people of Pakistan have to be reminded of what the man who founded their country stood for, asked us as citizens to do and those of us with authority not to do. It is time to ponder over the use of his guiding principles to lead us out of the present quagmire of violence and terrorism, the war within and the war outside, religious extremism, corruption, inefficiency, mediocrity and the shackling elite-capture of the state, society and all our primary institutions. On the 66th anniversary of independence from colonial rule, I will largely restrict myself to quoting from the founder of this country on issues that continue to mar our freedom and existence. Before coming to his much-quoted and least-heard first speech to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan after being elected as its president and the governor-general of the new dominion, let me just remind you of a press conference he held in Delhi on July 14, 1947. He said, “Every time I spoke about the minorities I meant what I said and I said what I meant… They will be, in all respects, the citizens of Pakistan without any distinction of caste and creed.” When a journalist asked him, “Will Pakistan be a secular or theocratic state?” he said, “You are asking me a question that is absurd. I do not know what a theocratic state means.” Another correspondent tried to elaborate the point by asking if Pakistan would be a country where Muslims became full citizens and non-Muslims did not enjoy the same status. The Quaid retorted, “Then it seems to me that what I have already said is like throwing water on a duck’s back. When you talk of democracy, I am afraid you have not studied Islam. We learned democracy thirteen centuries ago.” He furthered this point in a talk broadcast to Australia in 1948, “We are members of the brotherhood of Islam in which all are equal in right, dignity and self-respect. Consequently, we have a special and a very deep sense of unity. But make no mistake; Pakistan is not a theocracy or anything like it. Islam demands from us the tolerance of other creeds, and we welcome in closest association with us all those who, of whatever creed, are themselves willing and ready to play their part as true and loyal citizens of Pakistan.” That was the reason that the first ever law minister of the country appointed by Quaid-e-Azam in the cabinet of Liaquat Ali Khan was Joginder Nath Mandal – he also held the portfolio for labour rights and issues. Add PhotoTag actionPublicPublicFriends (+)Only Me (+)Custom (+)Close FriendsdroshSee all lists...Educational Testing ServiceFamilyAcquaintancesGo BackPublicFriendsOnly MeCustomClose FriendsdroshSee all lists...Educational Testing ServiceFamilyAcquaintancesGo BackPostNews FeedSORTPML-N "Forum on Social Media" Happy Independence Day 14th August & Many Happy Returns Of the Day------- PAKISTAN ZINDABADLike · · Share · 2311145 · 9 hours ago · Top Comments231 people like this.45 shares In the short time he was destined to live for after the creation of Pakistan, the Quaid reminded the defence forces and the civilian bureaucracy of their obligations more than once. While speaking at the Staff College in Quetta in 1948, he asked the officers to remain loyal to the government and owe allegiance to the constitution and the dominion of Pakistan. He clearly asked them to follow the orders that were issued by the executive head of the country and reiterated that no order could be made without the sanction of the executive head. Write a comment...Farman Ullah pakistan zinda abadLike · Reply · 1 · 8 hours agoSafdar Rasool Happy Independence DayLike · Reply · 7 hours agoView 9 more commentsOptionsPML-N "Forum on Social Media" added a new photo.Like · · Share · 223656 · 14 hours ago · Top Comments223 people like this.56 shares Write a comment...MuGhal Don aho..;)Like · Reply · 13 hours agoZubi Khans yesLike · Reply · 13 hours agoView 4 more commentsOptionsPML-N "Forum on Social Media" بریکنگ نیوز ہمارےدشمن ہمارےاوپرہنس رہےہیں،کہتےہیں یہ خودتباہ ہورہےہیں،چودھری نثار ہم نےاس خطےاورپاکستان میں امن لاناہے،چودھری نثار #ForRoshanPakistan #PMLNLike · · Share · 1351227 · 12 hours ago · Top Comments135 people like this. 27 sharesWrite a comment...Inncent Dua hLike · Reply · 10 hours agoInncent Dua good phali piyyer se baat karo humara ek ek pakistani bhut qimmti haiLike · Reply · 10 hours agoView 10 more commentsOptionsLike PageWorld Atlas · Suggested Post As mentioned earlier, I had a behind the scenes tour of the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo today and one of the areas we visited was the animal rescue center where experts rehabilitate a wide assortment of needy animals. This young injured crane is in the capable hands of Patrick Talbot, curator at the facility. These people do great work, be it a bird, dolphin, turtle or even a dangerous Lion fish.Like · · Share · 212312 · · SponsoredTop Comments212 people li ke this.12 sharesWrite a comment...Saad Shah ^to make a crane sandwichLike · Reply · 2 hours ago via mobileFaisal Noor Why are you putting him in that toaster?Like · Reply · 4 hours ago via mobileMd Uzzal For eatLike · 2 hours agoWrite a reply... Email: harris.khalique@gmail
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 04:40:43 +0000
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