Nation building

We don’t need another Jinnah

25th December, the birth anniversary of Quai-e-Azam, is usually celebrated with passion to remind the nation about the sacrifices by our great leader and others in laying the foundation of Pakistan. But even after 65 years, this nation still has no idea what it wants and what it needs. Some question the creation of Pakistan as a necessary step while some say it was our political right and we did the right thing in demanding a separate homeland. There is division among us as to the purpose of Pakistan’s creation with some quoting Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 11th August speech. But has this led us to any worthwhile situation? Or, should we keep waiting for another Jinnah while mourning on his demise? Isn’t it time to leave everything aside and start looking for the answers to the questions that require our immediate attention, like poverty, illiteracy, health care, lack of development in social sector, etc?

Jinnah’s address to the first constituent assembly of Pakistan clearly separated the business of state from religious preferences. He asked for complete independence regarding the performance of religious duties for all the citizens of Pakistan. It states, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed; this has nothing to do with the business of the state.” But, what has been done till now is totally the other way around. Muslims, Christians, Hindus and every other minority are equally unsafe in performing their religious duties. Prayers are offered in the shadows of guns and Pakistani society has taken a turn towards the worse by becoming highly affected by the sectarian beliefs. The so-called ‘Laboratory of Islam’ is now a playground for militants and extremists in which Muslims are butchered on the basis of their sectarian beliefs, Christians are being killed in the name of blasphemy and Hindus are being forced to migrate simply because of intolerance.

Ideally speaking, religious scholars, analysts and political activists who believe Pakistan to be a land for Muslims only and a laboratory to experience with Islamic teachings, should learn from the statement of the Founding Father. The struggle for Pakistan was political in nature. The demand for a separate homeland was considered unprecedented but the creation of Pakistan became a glaring achievement. So, arguing Pakistan to be the land for Muslims only is a misleading argument being used by the apologists to put a limit on the people of other religions and also to make them realise about their lesser status in the society.

What if Jinnah were alive? Would the situation be any different? Politicians use quotes from Jinnah’s speeches at different occasions, trying to look like each one of them has a deeper attachment to the Quaid than the next one. They keep reminding us that Jinnah is no more with us, and we, the people of Pakistan, sadly start mourning the demise of the greatest leader of this country, forgetting his legacy, something that should have never been forgotten.

It is high time we told these politicians that enough with using Jinnah as your emotional card and as your rallying call to gather political support for the very ideals that clash with every bit of what Jinnah has ever stood for. This country does not need another Jinnah; it only needs to stick to the principles laid down by Jinnah himself. Following his teachings, solutions to the problems of Pakistan can easily be found. When each member of our society has a tiny bit of what Jinnah has always asked us to do in our heart, we sure can do wonders for this country.

In his first address, Jinnah had asked the constituent assembly to function as a sovereign body as the federal legislature of Pakistan. The current Majlis-e-Shoora of Pakistan is still fighting to prove its parliamentary supremacy before the establishment of Pakistan. Jinnah had asked the legislature to work on the maintenance of law and order, to protect life, property and religious beliefs of the citizens of Pakistan. Has the legislature(s) in Pakistan succeeded in performing this task? To some extent, yes, but mainly a big no. Our assemblies have come a long way over time but their basic objectives remain unfulfilled yet.

The problems pointed out by Jinnah in the first address to the constituent assembly of Pakistan are no more different than the current issues. The issues of bribery, corruption, nepotism, robbery and black marketing are still there with the state being curiously inconspicuous of these issues. The socio-economic problems are eating the fabric of our society from inside out. The real problem for us is not the issues we are, or have been, facing but the reasons why we have not moved forward.

Pakistan virtually still stands at the same position as it was 65 years ago. The only development, if it can even be called that, has been the development of a consensus by both the religious and political forces of the country to strengthen democracy. But this unity of opinion is and will always remain under the threat of dictatorial forces in the country. And ironically, every dictator in Pakistan has presented himself as the real follower of Jinnah.

We first need to accept that we are facing problems, only then can we work for their solutions. These solutions cannot be found in arguing about the past and lamenting the demise of Jinnah; instead they can be found by achieving the goals laid down in the very first address of the Father of the Nation. We must also take into consideration that democracy is a process of trial and error, and it takes time to lay down its roots. The establishment of a progressive society can only be achieved by sticking to the principles of equality, justice and fair play.

Pakistan is waging an existential war against the militant and extremist forces. We need to move forward and take responsibility for our incompetence. We don’t need a new Jinnah for no one else can provide us what we want other than we, us and ourselves.

The writer can be reached at [email protected]