Page 6 - Pakistan Link - October 20, 2017

P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 20, 2017 OPINION
n By Cllr Dr James Shera Quaid’s Vision for the Minorities a situation, Christian members of the Punjab
UK Assembly openly sided with the All-India
Muslim League and declared that the Chris-
he founder and father of the nation and Today’s Reality tian population should be counted with the
of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muslims. So, when the votes were cast, Chris-
Twas undoubtedly revered and trusted tian Members of the Punjab Assembly, includ-
by all, irrespective of citizens’ faith, belief or ing Mr Dewan Bhadar, SP Singa, C E Gibbon
creed. and Choudhry Fazal Elahi, voted with the
During his struggle for Muslim League Members on 23rd June 1947.
the independence of Pakistan, History tells us that the Hindu Unionist
Christian organisations and party supported by the All India Congress got
activists along with others ac- 88 seats, whereas the All-India Muslim League
tively supported Mr Jinnah in got 88 seats, but the 3 votes from the Christian
his great mission even be- leaders named above played a crucial rule in
fore the final phase of the free- the formation of West Punjab.
dom movement was launched. Christians not When they were entering the Constitu-
just loved him and agreed with his thinking ent Assembly, Master Tarah Singh shouted at
and ideology but also offered him outpouring the stairs of the assembly, “Whoever demands
support. Leading Christians at that time took Pakistan will get Qabristan”, and in return, Mr
active part in the freedom movement, includ- SP Singha (Christian member of the Punjab
ing Mr Pothan Joseph, who rendered valuable Assembly) replied, “We will have the bullets in
services as a journalist and propagandist for our chest but we will get Pakistan”.
the Muslim League. Finally, the voting took place and 91 votes
After Pakistan’s emergence in 1947, Mr were cast in favor of the Muslim League in-
Jinnah repeatedly promised complete equality cluding 3 Christian, but the final and decisive
to all the citizens but unfortunately his prom- vote was cast by the Speaker of Punjab Assem-
ise was not kept by his successors. hindrance in progress; he wanted to address ocratic and tolerant society that retained its bly, Mr S P Singha, who was a Christian.
In his address to the first Constituent As- them and warned the nation clearly of such Muslim character whilst giving equal rights, The above account clearly demonstrates
sembly of Pakistan on 11th August 1947, Mr obstacles. Hence his speech, on 11th August equal opportunities, and equal respect to its the trust of the Christian community in the
Jinnah said: that has been quoted above, evidently sums up non-Muslim citizens. ideology and promises of the Quaid. Also
“You are free; you are free to go to your his views on the role of religion in relation to As I hinted earlier, Christian communi- upon his request, the Christian leadership
temples; free to go to your mosques or to any the state and its affairs. This speech continued ties fought hard for independence along with appeared before the Punjab Boundary Com-
other places of worship in the State of Paki- to be heard on radio Pakistan until 1957 and their Muslim brothers during the freedom mission along with 35 prominent Christians
stan. You may belong to any religion or cast or since then has never been broadcast again. movement. In 1947, the division of Punjab and asked the Boundary Commissioner Sir
creed that has nothing to do with the business The Quaid obviously understood the sen- became a major dispute between the All India Cyril Redcliffe to consider Christians as part
of the state.” sitivity of the matter and knew that breaking Congress and All-India Muslim League. Both of Pakistan.
So, let us start with this fundamental a nation into groups based on cast or religion parties were trying to have the maximum part Today questions are being asked by non-
principle of citizen equality in a state, which is would do us no good. So, he taught equality of Punjab on the basis of religious majority Muslim leaders as to why our forefathers sup-
vital for the development and progress of any amongst all citizens and love towards each that was endorsing the aspirations of Punjab ported Pakistan and the simple answer is that
nation. other, leaving religion and creed as a personal Assembly and there was quite a majority of they did so because the founder of Pakistan
I firmly believe that Mr Jinnah was a very matter of an individual which should not ob- Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab Assembly, Mr M. A. Jinnah repeatedly promised them
forward-looking leader, who whole-heartedly struct the progress of the country. and of course the Hindu Unionist party was in security, equality, freedom and free access to
wanted Pakistan to become one of the world’s Perhaps his historic speech of 11th Au- support of the All India Congress. practise their faith in the Islamic state of Paki-
greatest nations in the shortest possible time. gust, considered by many as the founding It looked as though the All-India Muslim stan.
His education in the West and vast global charter of Pakistan, sums up the Quaid’s views League did not have enough votes in the Pun- Mr Jinnah had the approval of the Mus-
knowledge facilitated him to foresee prob- on the role of religion in the State. Pakistan’s jab Assembly and neither had enough territo- lim League’s Core Committee for the flag of
lems that often plague nations and become a founding father envisaged a progressive, dem- ries to command a Muslim majority. In such MINORITIES, P28

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