PESHAWAR, Dec 25 (APP): A leader of par excellence with numerous qualities of head and heart, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who changed the world map through legal and democratic struggle, was remembered on his 149 birthday anniversary here Thursday.
Stood for unity, faith and discipline, the great Quaid’s qualities were highly praised by world leaders even by adversaries.
“Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three,” said Stanley Wolpert, a renowned US academic, historian and writer about Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his famous book ‘Jinnah of Pakistan’ published in 1984.
The popular statement reflects the fact that it was only Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who bravely led and fought the case of Muslim nationhood in India and won it purely through a democratic struggle and constitutionalism.
Born at Karachi on December 25, 1876, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had spearheaded the politcal struggle for Pakistan after joining Pakistan Muslim League. Following the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution, Quaid-i-Azam reorganized the All India Muslim League (AIML) by making repeated visits to all Muslims majority provinces of British India including NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) to mobilize people and students for the accomplishment of his mission for Pakistan.
The legendary Quaid had also visited the historic Islamia College, Peshawar (ICP) in 1936, 1945 and 1948 to acknowledge the outstanding role of its students during the Pakistan Movement.
Impressed by the patriotism, commitment and devotion of its students for Pakistan, the great Quaid received a rousing welcome when he came to ICP in 1945 where its students and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) presented him Rs8,000 as fund for Pakistan Movement.
The students and MSF assured him to present 8,000 committed educated workers when he came again to this great alma mater. The people of KP showed immense love for Quaid-i-Azam and that is why AIML secured a maximum number of seats in this province in the 1946 elections after that historic victory nobody could stop the independence movement of Pakistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The arrival of a legendary leader committed to the cause of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent had moved people of KP, who decorated their homes, bungalows, bazaars, markets, villages, towns and vehicles with national and Muslim League flags besides holding placards inscribed with different slogans of Pakistan Zindabad and Quaid-i-Azam Zindabad to welcome their beloved leader.
“A sea of people with national flags and portraits of Quaid-i-Azam had arrived from across KP and erstwhile FATA to see glimpses of their beloved leader when he came here in 1945 and later as first Governor General of Pakistan on April 12, 1948,” said Muhammad Younas Khan, former Chairman Pakistan Studies Department, Islamia College Peshawar while talking to APP.
“The spirit and enthusiasm of people was historic as this ancient city had been beautifully decorated with national flags hoisted atop of all major buildings and vehicles wearing a festive look.”
He also paid his last visit to ICP as the first Governor General of Pakistan on April 12, 1948, and presented glowing tributes to the services of its students towards making Pakistan in these words.
“I am indeed very happy to be present here today and to have the privilege of addressing students of this great Darul Uloom, who are the future builders of Pakistan.”
He advised the students to develop a sound sense of discipline, character, and solid academic background and devote themselves towards their studies. “Remember your government is like your own garden. Your garden flourishes by the way you look after it and the efforts that you put towards its improvement. Similarly, your government can only flourish by your patriotic, honest and constructive efforts to improve it,” the great Quaid told students.
Following a gap of one year, the Government established the University of Peshawar near ICP in 1949 in line with the Quaid’s vision.
Quaid-i-Azam’s love for ICP could be judged from his historic will written on May 30, 1939, in Mumbai in which he declared ICP, Muslim University Aligarh and Sindh Madrassatul Islam Karachi, as among the inheritors of his property.
Later, the Quaid Trust paid Rs10.81 million in different instalments to ICP. The amount was later spent on the establishment of Quaid-i-Azam College of Commerce, University of Peshawar, the construction of Jinnah Residential Quarters for the college employees, Jinnah College for Women and the newly-constructed Takbeer block.
“The Quaid-i-Azam’s speech to students of ICP was historic. We can achieve every goal in life by strictly adhering to it,” said Professor Dr Ejaz Khan, former Chairman International Relations Department at University of Peshawar.
“The great Quaid had laid great emphasis on education, character building and constructive criticism on the government for the sake of improvement and reformation rather than making point-scoring for political and personal gains,” he said.
He said it was high time to revitalize the legacy of the father of the nation by equipping students with the ornament of education and supporting our government to adopt a culture of constructive criticism for the sake of improvement to take the country forward towards prosperity.
“Every goal in life could be achieved by strictly following the Quaid’s principles of unity, faith and discipline,” he said.
The great Quaid knew that students were future builders of Pakistan and that was why he made repeated visits to ICP despite his hectic engagements and poor health condition, he added.
Former member national assembly, Shah Ghee Gul Afridi said that Quaid-i-Azam had an immense love for tribesmen of merged tribal districts (Erstwhile FATA) for their strong loyalty, supreme sacrifices and consistent support during the Pakistan Movement.
Despite hectic official engagements as the First Governor General of Pakistan, the great Quaid had visited Peshawar where he addressed a Grand Tribal Jira at Governor House, Peshawar on April 17, 1948.
During his historic address to tribal jirga with the overwhelming representation of tribal people, chieftains and maliks from all tribal districts, the great Quaid highly praised the strong commitment, patriotism and support of tribesmen in the completion of his mission for Pakistan.
Despite his deteriorating health, Quaid-i-Azam continued excessive hard work and left this mortal world forever on September 11, 1948, and was laid to rest in Karachi.
