Pakistan Movement

Pakistan Movement

The first brick in the foundation of Pakistan was laid in 712 A.D. when Mohammad Bin Qasim anchored at Debal Port (now known as Karachi), freed the Muslim women and children from the prisons of Raja Dahir and constructed the first mosque at the town. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan, acclaimed the event- "the Pakistan Movement started when the first Muslim put his foot on the soil of Sindh, the Gateway of Islam in India."

Pakistan Movement is synonymous with the very spirit of Islam. The War of Independence in 1857 was an open manifestation of the Muslim spirit of revolt against the domination of the British Government and its stooges in India. Frustration and lack of direction, however, pervaded the rank of Muslims after the unfortunate failure in the War. At this critical juncture emerged Sir Syed Abroad Khan who served as a beacon light for the Muslim Nation in distress and disarray. He equated education with power and declared that the Muslims could improve their political, social and economic condition only through the medium of modem and scientific education. He cultivated the concept of a separate Muslim Nation on the basis of religion, culture and history .He inspired the Muslims of the sub-continent to demand a separate homeland where they could arrange their lives and affairs of the State according to the dictates of Holy Quran and Sunnah.

After the establishment of the Indian National Congress in 1885, the Muslim leaders saw through the game of "National" movement and warned their people of the hovering dangers. In 1906, the Muslim League was founded as a challenge to the Indian National Congress. Maulana Hasrat Mohani presented a plan to the Government for the country envisaging two separate states for the Hindus and Muslims. Chaudhary Rehmat Ali further developed this concept. He displayed great wisdom and foresight by putting forth not only a name but in large measure the scheme that culminated in the creation of Pakistan. Maulana Mohamed Ali, Maulana Shaukat Ali and Maulana Zafar Ali Khan spread the message of Pakistan through their lucid lectures and articles in newspapers.

The most outstanding contribution, however, came from Dr. Sir Mohammad Iqbal, the great philosopher and poet and the symbol of Muslim nationalism. Pakistan ideology found ever-clearer expression in his religion-philosophical, didactic and poetic works. At its base was the idea that spiritual unit founded on Islam was the most vital and integral element of national society. Islam emerges in this ideology as a form of National unity and absorbs all political thoughts. While presiding over the Session of the All India Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930, Dr. Iqbal's Address represented the first clarion call for the establishment of an independent Islamic State in the sub- continent.

From 1937 onwards, Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah became identified in the Muslim mind with the concept of the charismatic community, the concept which answered their psychic need for endowing and sanctifying their sense of community with a sense of power. Increasingly did he become, with the passage of time. the embodiment of Muslim national consensus. And this explains why and how Muslims acknowledged him as their 'Quaid-e-Azam' even before the launching of the Pakistan demand in March 1940. From now on events moved fast. Due to the persistent intransigence of the Indian National Congress, the Muslims were left with no alternative but to demand the partition of the Sub-continent through the famous Resolution of 23rd March 1940. It declared that no constitutional plan would be workable in the country or acceptable to the Muslims unless it was designed on the basic principle that geographically contiguous units were demarcated into regions in a manner that the areas in which the Muslims were numerically in a majority were grouped together to constitute an independent state.

After a hard and heroic struggle by the Muslims of the sub- continent, the British Parliament was forced to approve the Indian Independence Act, 1947 leading to the birth of Pakistan on 14th August. 1947. On this historic day the Quaid-e-Azam, while addressing the first session of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in Karachi eulogised the services and sacrifices of the Muslims of the Sub-continent to achieve Pakistan, in the following words:-

"My thoughts are with the valiant fighters in our cause who readily sacrificed all they had, including their live,. To make Pakistan Possible.”

Thus the response of the millions, sacrificing their lives and homes, to the call of "UNITY, FAITH and DISCIPLINE" from their Quaid-e-Azam fitfully placed Pakistan on the world map.

Quaid-e-Azam was a great man and a great Muslim. He vehemently advocated morality in politics. He declared that morality in politics was even more important than in private life "because,' if you do something wrong in public you hurt and harm more people".

Let us endeavour to achieve the objective laid down by the Quaid in his broadcast to the Nation on 3Oth October 1947.

"Now is the time, chance and opportunity for every Mussalman to make his or her fullest and best contribution and make the greatest sacrifice and

work ceaselessly in the service of our Nation and world."