Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and its first Governor-General, envisioned a modern, democratic, and welfare-oriented state, often described as an Islamic democracy. In his 11 August 1947 speech, he envisioned a nation with equal citizenship, where all faiths could practise freely without discrimination, as outlined by the National Assembly of Pakistan.

Jinnah stated that religion should not affect citizenship, emphasising that, “you may belong to any religion, caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”

He believed in a parliamentary form of government, democracy, and the rule of law. Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a modern state that could keep pace with global developments. He also believed in the active participation of women in national life.

Immediately after the establishment of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah said:

“We have, undoubtedly, achieved Pakistan and that too without bloody war and practically peacefully by moral and intellectual force and with the power of the pen, which is no less mighty than the sword, and so our righteous cause has triumphed. Are we now going to besmear and tarnish this great achievement for which there is no parallel in the whole history of the world?”

Seventy-nine years later, we are still searching for the nation-state founded by the tireless and unrelenting efforts of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and asking ourselves where Jinnah’s Pakistan is.........

© The Friday Times