A nation that betrays the vision of its Founding Fathers is one destined to suffer insecurity, scattered into groups, each pursuing its own individual goals, driven by greed for power and wealth. In his historic address to Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, the Quaid said: “the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the state”. And while the Quaid reportedly placed on record that Ayub Khan Khan should never be promoted – owing to reports that as officer in charge of the Pakistan contingent in the Punjab Boundary Force, refugees migrating from Amritsar and other places were left unprotected, only to be slaughtered by the Sikhs – he was made the commander in chief. During the Quaid’s lifetime Ayub was superseded by his juniors Brig Nazir, Iftikhar and Nasir. Earlier during WWII, Lt Col Ayub Khan was removed from command of 1st Assam Regiment for wavering to lead his men in Battle of Kohima in Burma. It is unfortunate that Ayub was promoted after Quaid’s death and this overambitious khaki in league conspiring with Mumtaz Daultana and governor general Ghulam Mohammad removed Khawaja Nazimuddin, sowing the seeds for separation of East Pakistan. The rest, as they say, is history. We faced break up of Pakistan and embarrassment of surrender under Yahya Khan who was appointed by Ayub Khan. Instead of a democratic welfare state envisioned by the Quaid, we were transformed into a security state by military adventurers in collaboration with corrupt bureaucrats and political opportunists, while genuine politicians were restricted by EBDO issued by the self-appointed field martial. Our sovereignty was bargained by Zia when he allowed this country to host terrorists from all over the world and today we are reaping the harvest as a nation riddled with corruption, terrorism, politics of violence, extortion, land mafia and insecurity. Those who decide the fate and destiny of this country are men, who have no stakes in Pakistan, having shifted their assets and family to foreign countries. Our salvation lies in adherence to the Quaid’s vision.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore