The enemies of Pakistan tried to spur regional, linguistic and provincial differences among the people of Pakistan. To dispel the frustration created by the anti-Pakistan propaganda the Quaid-e-Azam visited all the four provinces and some of the remotest parts thereof and encouraged the people to stand united and not to fall prey to the propaganda made by the enemies. In one of his speeches he made it clear in unequivocal terms that Islam is the only binding force which can keep our people united. He told the people that whosoever they were and wherever they lived, they are all Muslims and belonged to one Pakistani nation. They should be thankful to Allah for the vast homeland. He had endowed them with. The Punjabis, Bengalis, Pathans, Balochis and Sindhis, all belonged to Pakistan and Pakistan belonged to them all.
In a speech on Aug. 9, 1947 he declared:
"Let us trust each other... .. let us work in double
shift if necessary to make our country really happy, really
united and really powerful." (August 9, 1947)
Addressing the students of the Dacca University, the Quaid-e-Azam said:
"I assure you, divided you fall, united you stand." (March, 24, 1948)
Quaid-e-Azam Vision of Pakistan
i. Rehabilitation of Refugees
We have studied earlier that about 6.5 million people migrated from India to Pakistan during the process of partition, hence the rehabilitation of refugees emerged as the biggest and the most urgent problem the Quaid-e-Azam had to deal with. The Quaid-e-Azam himself looked after the process of rehabilitation; he established a 'Refugee Fund' and made an appeal to the people to contribute generously to this fund.
He said:
" save all you can and give towards the relief of these victims of bestiality and vandalism who have. suffered all this for the sole reason that that they are Muslims." (October 30, 1947)
The local population exhibited great zeal and enthusiasm in helping their brethren who were uprooted from their homes and hearths only because they were Muslims, these people were provided homes and jobs in a few years' time, and this was made possible mainly due to the personal efforts of the Quaid-e-Azam.
ii. Fighting Regionalism and Parochialism
The Quaid-e-Azam knew that there were many people inside the country and out, who were at loss in realizing that Pakistan was a reality and that it was destined to live forever. These elements were ready to go to any extent to undo Pakistan. They believed that Pakistan could be disintegrated by giving rise to the sentiments of parochialism and regionalism among the people. The Quaid-e-Azam warned the nation to anticipate the danger and stand as one man to defend against it.
He said:
"We are now all Pakistanis.......... not Balochi's Pathans, Sindhis, Bengalis and Punjabis and so on......... And as
Pakistanis we must feel, behave and act, and we should be
proud to be known as Pakistanis and nothing else". (June 15, 1948)
Addressing the inaugural session of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan the Quaid-e- Azam said that there was a time when religion was used for dividing the people and creating rift among them. He said 'we are lucky that we are not starting in that age, everybody is free to follow the religion of his choice; all citizens of Pakistan shall have equal civil rights irrespective of their religion and creed.
iii. Fundamental Principles of Economy: the Quaid-e-Azam's Vision
Inaugurating the State Bank of Pakistan on July 1, 1948 the Quaid-e-Azam criticized the 'western' economic system very bitterly, he said that this system did not suit the genius of our people, we shall have to devise a system of our own and it should be based on Islamic principles,
He said:
"The economic system of the West has created almost insoluble problems for humanity, and to many of us it appears that only a miracle can save it from disaster that is now facing the world ..... The Western world, in spite of its advantages of mechanization and industrial efficiency is today in a worse mess than ever before in history. The adoption of Western economic theory and practice will not help us in achieving our goal of creating a happy and contented people. We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice." (July 1, 1948)
He had already made it clear in his first address to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan saying:
"Now what shall we do? Now, if we want to make this great state of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the wellbeing of the people, and especially the masses and the poor." (Aug. 11, 1947)
iv. Guiding Principles of the Foreign Policy
The Quaid-e-Azam believed that Pakistan should adopt the principle of non-alignment while establishing relations with countries of the world; he observed that foreign policy of Pakistan was based on the principle of friendship with all nations. He added that Pakistan has no aggressive designs against any country and would like that all international issues are resolved with a spirit of justice and fair play.
He believed that Pakistan has a role to play as an active member of the comity of nations. It was due to Quaid-e-Azam's efforts that Pakistan was admitted to the membership of the United Nations only one month after independence (in September 1947). Pakistan established ties with numerous countries of the world including the Commonwealth of Nations. The Quaid-e-Azam attached special importance to Pakistan's relations with the Muslim countries of the world. He was of the opinion that the Muslim countries should join hands to solve their internal problems and make common cause on all issues of international importance.
Sending an Eid-ul-Fitr message to the international Muslim community he said:
"We are all passing through perilous times. The drama of power politics that is being staged in Palestine, Indonesia and Kashmir should serve as an eye opener to us. It is only by putting up a united front that we can make our voice felt in the counsels of the world". (Aug. 27, 1948)
v. Guidelines for Students
On October 31, 1947 the Quaid-e-Azam received a delegation of the student and gave them some excellent pieces of advice, he said that Pakistan was proud of her youth and especially her students, who always remained in the frontline during the hour of strife. He added that the youth were Pakistan's future.
Addressing the students at Dacca, he observed;
"My young friends! I look forward to you as the real makers of Pakistan, do not be exploited and do not be misled. Create among yourself an example of what youth can be, in fairness to yourself, in fairness to your parents, in fairness to the state, to devote your attention to your studies".
(March 21, 1947)
Quaid-e-Azam's Strategy for the Solution of Problems
The Quaid-e-Azam was not only the greatest leader of the Muslims of South Asia; he also enjoys a position of great honour amongst the leaders of the world. He led his nation to freedom and was able to achieve an independent homeland for the Muslims of India. He made his way through heavy odds and adversities. He was a man of unflinching courage and unwavering determination. There are very few people in the modern history of nations who would equal his merits.
i. Qualities of Leadership: Quaid-e-Azam's approach was pragmatic; he would always devise his policy in the light of objective realities. He started his political career as a member of the Indian National Congress, which at that time was held as the only forum suitable for freedom loving Indian intellectuals. He did not join the Muslim League at the time of its inception in the year 1906, for the sole reason that at that time it was not a popular political party; it was dominated by the Muslim feudals and not the common Muslims. In 1913 he joined the Muslim League, with the conviction that he was now in a position to bring about changes in Muslim League's feudal character. He was right, and within a short period of time he was successful in making the Muslim League a popular Muslim political party.
ii. Protagonist of Hindu-Muslim unity: The Quaid-e-Azam was a great protagonist of Hindu-Muslim unity, he always tried to bring the Congress to accept the minimum Muslim demands, only in this way, he believed, Indian unity could be preserved, but when all his efforts were flouted by the extremist Hindus in the Congress ranks, he demanded for a separate Muslim homeland as the last resort. Although the Muslims had reposed full confidence in the Muslim Leagues demand for Pakistan in 1945-46 elections, yet the Quaid-e-Azam was ready to make concessions in favour of a formula through which good neighbourly relations between the Hindus and the Muslims could be maintained. It was as late as May 1946 that he brought the Muslim League to accept the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Plan envisaged a federal set up for India and did not provide for India's partition.
iii. Jurist by Profession: The Quaid-e-Azam, a jurist by profession, attached great importance to peaceful and constitutional means for the achievement of national objectives. The fact that he could not be jailed even for a single day by the British Government during his fifty-year long career is enough to prove that he did never break law and never did provoke his followers to terrorism and disruptive activities. He kept himself aloof from the emotional movements like the Khilafat and the Hijrat. He was not tempted by the idea of earning easy and prompt popularity which these movements offered. Through his unbeatable foresight he was able to anticipate that movements based on emotionality are bound to end up in terrorism and disruption without achieving anything material.
iv. Staunch Muslim: The Quaid-e-Azam was a staunch Muslim, he had deep religious insight but he never exploited religion for political gains. He wanted to make Pakistan an enlightened Muslim state but the idea of a theocratic state he categorically ruled out.
v. Excellent Qualities: He had excellent qualities of head and heart, no one in the ranks of Indian politicians matched his superb intelligence. He was well read, his observation was keen, and he was an eloquent speaker. He was clear and pragmatic. He would prevail over his opponents with the force of his irresistible wisdom and reasoning. Even his worst enemies could not question his honesty and integrity.
vi. Unflinching Faith in his Leadership: The Muslim of the Sub-Continent had unflinching faith in his leadership. In the difficulties that ensued partition, his statesmanship gave people courage to stand upright and face heavy odds with forbearance. In the following lines we shall pick up two outstanding merits of the Quaid-e-Azam's personality, and study them under separate heads.
vii. Negotiating Skills: Like a true democrat the Quaid-e-Azam believed in solving disputes through negotiation, he seldom turned down an offer to negotiate. In the year 1930-31 he travelled to London on British Government's invitation to attend the Round Table Conference. The Nehru Report exhibited the extremist Hindu mind but the Quaid-e- Azam did not lose heart even at this, he yielded several concessions in the hop of hitting at a compromise formula. In September 1944, he accepted Gandhi's offer and a long series of talks was held at the Quaid-e-Azam's residence in Bombay. He tried to solve the Kashmir problem through the good offices of the Commonwealth and the UNO; he did not even turn down Indian government's offer to negotiate the issue bilaterally.
In May 1948 the federal government designated the city of Karachi as the federal capital, a strong group in the Sindh Muslim League resented this decision and formed an Action Committee for getting the decision reversed. The Quaid-e-Azam summoned the aggrieved members to Ziarat, discussed the matter with them and was successful in changing their mind.
Hard Work, Unity, Discipline and Faith: The Quaid-e-Azam put the golden principles he cherished most, in four brief words. Addressing the historic public meeting at Lahore, he said:
"It is now up to you to work, work and work and we are bound to succeed. And never forget our Motto-Unity, Discipline and Faith".
