ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Dr Arif Alvi called upon nation to uphold Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan and follow his principles to ensure progress and prosperity of country. In message on Quaid’s 146th birth anniversary, premier said that whole nation is celebrating with patriotic fervour and zeal. Founder of Pakistan “Valiantly fought constitutional and political fight” for rights of Muslims in Indian subcontinent and as result, they are living independently in Pakistan today, he added. Shehbaz said that Quaid-e-Azam was against idea of majority usurping rights of minorities on basis of numerical superiority, adding that Jinnah had strived for restoration of unique way of life of Muslims and for their separate social, and economic, political and cultural identity in comity of nations.

PM said Jinnah’s efforts were directed not only to create separate and independent state for Muslims but also for state in which minorities lived without fear or danger and were given equal opportunities and complete religious freedom. Shehbaz remarked that because of rising religious animosity and mindset of extremist Hindutva, India as state has failed to protect rights of its minorities. This situation makes Quaid’s farsightedness evident and proves his arguments for two-nation theory, he stressed.

He said Quaid-e-Azam’s life was “Practical demonstration of his steadfastness for principles, constitutional struggle, political sagacity and of golden principles of faith, unity and discipline”. He emphasised that nation needs to follow Quaid’s vision and principles. Jinnah’s Pakistan there would be no superiority on basis of language, class, religion or numerical strength. “Constitution of Pakistan truly represented Quaid’s 14 points and under it, everyone would have equal opportunities for achieving progress and prosperity, without diminishing individual strength of any federal unit,” he added. Pakistan is going through difficult phase and following Quaid’s footsteps is more necessary now than ever. Best way to pay tribute to founder is to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, he said. President Dr Arif Alvi in his message reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to cherish and uphold Quaid-e-Azam’s vision for country, mobilising resources to tackle grave issues and move on path of political stability and economic prosperity.

“Today, we celebrate 146th birth anniversary of our beloved founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with great affection, enthusiasm and reverence,” he said. “On this day, we express our gratitude for carving out separate homeland for Muslims of sub-continent where we are free to realise our dreams as envisioned by Quaid. Due to his untiring efforts, we were blessed with country where we can live and breathe as free men and can develop it according to our own wishes and culture and uphold principles of Islamic social justice.” “We also reiterate our commitment to always cherish and uphold Quaid’s vision for Pakistan where we mobilise all our resources in a systematic and organised way and tackle grave issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline worthy of great nation,” he added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 26 2022

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