This day reminds us of the level of
discipline and unity among our elders which enabled them to give us this
beautiful country. Their freedom actions were based on unity, faith, and
discipline and this is the time when unity has become even more important for
the future and prosperity of our country. Hence, March 23 is a very important
day in the history of Pakistan that teaches us to march unitedly towards the prosperity, integrity, and progress of Pakistan as per the guidelines of
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This is the day to affirm our commitment that
we as a nation will work and march with a positive role rather than the
negative and reverse order which has already created numerous crises for us.
The day reminds us of our great founding leaders and elders who rendered
numerous sacrifices to give us an independent country. To achieve the ‘Two
Nation Theory’, our forefathers and great leaders not only struggled day and
night but also rendered numerous sacrifices.
The history of the subcontinent was
changed the moment ‘Pakistan Resolution’ was passed today on March 23, in 1940.
It was the first time on this golden day, Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah had
formally demanded a separate homeland, Pakistan for us based on ‘Two Nation
Theory’ which was based on the concept of the Muslim nationhood in his address
at the Minto Park Lahore which is turned to be a historically important
monument for Pakistan. The Resolution was moved by the then Bengal Chief
Minister A. K. Fazlul Haq and Chaudhry Khaliq uz Zaman. Pakistan Resolution
stated “No constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable
to Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principle, namely, that
geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so
constituted, … that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority,
as in the north western and eastern zones of India, should be grouped to
constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be
autonomous and sovereign…” The resolution for the establishment of a separate
homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent was passed in the annual session
of the All-India Muslim League held in Lahore on 22-24 March 1940; a landmark
document of Pakistan’s history. On the first day of the session, Quaid-e-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah narrated the events of the last few months where Muslims
were mistreated by the Hindu extremists. In his significant speech, he
presented his own solution to the problems of Muslims. He expressed that the
problem of Indian Muslims was not an internal affair but an international one
and must be treated as such.
To him, the differences between
Hindus and Muslims were so immense that their survival under one central
government was unlikely. They belonged to two separate and distinct nations as
well as two different religions and therefore the only way out was to allow them
to have separate states. Quaid-e-Azam vocally stated “Hindus and the Muslims
belong to two different religions, philosophies, social customs and literature.
They neither inter-marry nor inter-dine and, indeed, they belong to two
different civilisations that are based mainly on conflicting ideas and
conceptions. Their concepts on life and of life are different. It is quite
clear that Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources
of history. They have different epics, different heroes and different episodes.
Very often the hero of one is a foe of the other, and likewise, their victories
and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state,
one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing
discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be so built up for the
government of such a state”.
Based on the above-mentioned ideas
of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and A. K. Fazlul Haq, the historical
resolution was moved which has since come to be known as Lahore Resolution or
Pakistan Resolution. It emphasised the principles relevant to the modern state
system and the political context of British India. It made five specific demands.
- The Resolution rejected the federal system of government as envisaged in the Government of India Act, 1935 because it was “totally unsuited to and unworkable in the peculiar conditions of this country and is altogether unacceptable to Muslim India.”
- The Muslims would not accept any revised constitutional plan unless it was framed with “their consent and approval.”
- The adjacent territorial units should be demarcated into regions that may involve some territorial adjustments in a manner “that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in north-western and eastern zones of India “become “independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.”
- The resolution offered “adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards for religious minorities” in the Muslim majority units for the “protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, and administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.” Similar rights will be given to the Muslims in “other parts of India.”
- The Muslim League Working Committee was asked to formulate a constitutional scheme on the basis of the principles outlined in the Resolution.
The Resolution thus offered a new
course of action for the Muslims of British India as compared to the Muslim
League position adopted on constitutional and political issues in the past.
Today we happily breathe in an independent country for which our forefathers
had sacrificed a lot and it is our national duty to uphold and defend it so
that we can give a better Pakistan to our upcoming generations. The celebration
of 23rd March aimed to pay our rich tribute to the father of the nation,
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his companions.
On this day, we must not forget the
sacrifices of our armed forces, particularly the sacrifices of the Pak Army in
defending the borders of the country and fighting against terrorists. Today the
martyrs of the nation are in our thoughts and we salute them for their bravery
and sacrifices for the motherland. I wish today all of us Pakistanis undertake
that we will follow Quaid-e-Azam’s golden principle of governance ‘Unity, Faith
and Discipline’.
Today Pakistan is passing through
numerous crises and I would like to appeal to all political parties to forge
national unity on vital national requirements i.e. defence, national security,
and economy of the country in the larger interest of Pakistan and its people.
As a nation, we must not forget high-handed and well-organised proxy wars
already aggressively launched against Pakistan which is damaging our national
cause and interests both at national and international fronts.
We must get rid of petty attacks on
each other and direct our energies towards the betterment of our beloved
country. We have to be steadfast in marching forward for the dignity,
prosperity, and honour of our country and to struggle for our next generations.
The Article was published in The Nation on March 23, 2021 (Pakistan Day), link to the original article https://nation.com.pk/23-Mar-2021/pakistan-day-national-discipline-and-unity
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