Pakistan Ideology: Quaid-e-Azam's Pronouncements

 The Quaid-e-Azam did not look at the Indian problem as communal; he rather believed that the problem was of international character. The Congress leadership blamed the Muslims of being a reactionary community and accused the Quaid of being factionalist and sectarian. This allegation was stupid and unfair for a moderate and positive thinking statesman like him. The Quaid-e-Azam's demand for Pakistan was not based on the sentiment of Hindu hatred. For years together he had worked hard to bring the two nations to the mutually agreeable terms of constitutional agreement, but the Hindu extremists thwarted all the efforts made by him in this direction. The Quaid-e-Azam's vision of Pakistan and his ideas on Muslim nationhood can be understood in the light of the following abstracts taken from his speeches and statements:

The Muslims will not accede to Hindu Domination: Addressing the historical 23rd March 1940 Muslim.

League session the Quaid-e-Azam made it clear:

"The Muslims of India will never accede to a constitutional scheme which results in the establishment of the Hindu domination in India".

Muslims are a Separate Nation: The Quaid-e-Azam said:

"Islam and Hinduism are not religions in the strict sense of the word but are in fact different and distinct social orders and it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religions, philosophies, socials, customs and religions. They belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their aspects on life and of life are different. To yoke together two such nations under a single state must lead to destruction. Muslims are a nation by any definition of a nation. Therefore there is a need of separate state where they could lead their lives by their own values and religion" (Presudential Address, The All India Muslim League Lahore Session 22nd March1940)

Independent State; a Pre-requisite of the Muslim Progress:

The Quaid-e-Azam said:

"Mussalmans are a nation according to any definition of a nation, and they must have their homelands, their territory, and their state. We wish to live in peace and harmony with our neighbours as a free and independent people. We wish our people to develop to the fullest our spiritual, cultural, economic, social, and political life, in a way that wethink best and in consonance with our own ideals and according to the genius of our people" (Presidential Address. The All India Muslim Leapse Labore Session 23ed March 1940)

Islam is the Basis of our National Unity; After the creation of Pakistan the Quaid-e-Azam gave a call to the nation to unite on the basis of Muslim brotherhood he said:

"Islam has taught us this, and I think you will agree with me, whatever you may be and wherever you are, you are a Muslim. You belong to a nation now. You have carved out a territory, vast territory, it is all yours; it does not belong to a Punjabi or a Sindhi or a Pathan or a Bengali, it is yours." (Address to a three hundred thousand crowd in Decca, March 21, 1948)

Democracy, Equality and Justice: Foundations of Islamic Constitution: Explaining the guidin principles of the future constitution of Pakistan the Quaid-e-Azam" said:

"The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. I do not know what the ultimate shape of the constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today they are as applicable in actual life as these were 1330 years ago. Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught us equality of man, justice and fairplay to everybody. We are the inheritors of the glorious traditions and are fully alive to our responsibilities and obligations as framers of the future constitution of Pakistan."

(Radio Address to the People of the USA recorded in February 1948)

Sovereignty Belongs to Almighty Allah; Quran is the Source of Ultimate Guidance: Enlisting the guiding principles of an Islamic state the Quaid-e-Azam said:

"Fundamentally, in an Islamic state all authority rests with Almighty Allah. The working of an Islamic government is conducted according to the Quranic principles and injunctions. In an Islamic state, neither its head nor any parliament or an institution or an individual can act absolutely in any matter. Only the Quranic injunctions control our behaviour in the society and in the politics."

(Address at the Othmania University Hayderabad, August 1941) 

Fighting Poverty and Exploitation: Our National Objective: Addressing the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan the Quaid-e-Azam observed:

"... Now, if we want to make this great state of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people and especially of the masses and the poor." (August, 11. 1947)

Non-Muslim Citizen will be Treated on the Basis of Equality: Addressing the same session the Quaid-e-Azam pronounced the guiding principles of the state policy. He emphasized that the rights of the non-

Muslim minorities in the state of Pakistan will be equal to those of the Muslim majority. The Quaid said:

you are free, you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any region or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state....... We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state." (August 11, 1947).