Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is called Quaid-e-Azam (meaning “Great Leader” in Urdu) by the nation. Pakistanis hold him in high esteem and call him the national hero and the founder of the nation. He was a lawyer by profession and a politician who played a key role in the Indian independence movement and the creation of Pakistan.
How it all began
Our great leader, Jinnah was born in Karachi, British India (now Pakistan) in 1876. Received his legal education in England and returned to India to practice law. He joined the Indian National Congress, a political party that was seeking self-governance for India from British rule. However, he later on left the party due to ideological differences.
In 1913, Jinnah joined the All India Muslim League. It was a political party that represented the interests of Muslims in India. He played a pivotal role in the negotiations leading up to the creation of Pakistan. During the Indian independence movement, he developed a set of political principles known as the “14 Points” . He gave a speech to the All India Muslim League in 1929 and outlined these points. They protected the rights and interests of Muslims in a future independent India. The 14 points included demands for separate electorates for Muslims, the protection of Muslim cultural and religious rights, and the establishment of a federal system of government in India.
Jinnah’s 14 points were influential in the development of the two-nation theory. It argued that Hindus and Muslims were two distinct nations with incompatible cultures and religions and that they should have separate states. Jinnah strongly believed that Muslims were an independent nation and advocated this quiet often. His determination eventually led to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
The famous – Jinnah’s 14 points
- The form of the future constitution should be federal, with the residuary powers vested in the provinces.
- A uniform measure of autonomy shall be granted to all provinces.
- All legislatures in the country and other elected bodies shall be constituted on the definite principle of adequate and effective representation of minorities in every province without reducing the majority in any province to minority or even equality.
- In the Central Legislature, Muslim representation shall not be less than one-third
- Representation of communal groups shall continue to be by separate electorates: provided that it shall be open to any community, at any time, to abandon its separate electorate in favour of joint electorate.
- Any territorial distribution that might at any time be necessary shall not in any way affect the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal, and NWFP provinces.
- Full religious liberty shall be guaranteed to all communities.
- One-third representation shall be given to Muslims in both central and provincial cabinets.
- No bill or resolution shall be passed in any legislature if three-fourths of the members of any community in that body oppose the bill.
- Sind should be separated from Bombay to a province.
- Reforms should be introduced in the NWFP and Balochistan on the same footings as in the other provinces.
- Muslims should be given an adequate share in all services, having due regard to the requirement of efficiency.
- The Constitution should embody adequate safeguards for the protection of Muslim culture, education, language, religion, and personal laws, as well as for Muslim charitable institutions.
- No change will be made in the constitution without the consent of the province.
Jinnah Legacy
The Pakistani nation will always be grateful and pay tribute to Jinnah for his strong leadership and vision for Pakistan as a modern, democratic, and secular nation. The nation also names him as “Muhajir-e-Azam” (meaning “Great Migrant” in Urdu), a reference to his migration from India to Pakistan at the time of partition.
Pakistan continues to celebrate Jinnah’s legacy, and his birthday, December 25th, is a national holiday in the country. His ideals and vision for Pakistan continue to inspire and guide the nation to this day.
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