Daily Times

Following the attacks on May 9 2023, a part of the Jinnah House in Lahore was converted into Jinnah Gallery. Inside the gallery, various aspects of Quaid-e-Azam’s life are depicted through pictures and videos. Especially, memories related to Quaid’s life before and after the establishment of Pakistan and his deep connections with the Pakistani military are preserved in this gallery.

A library has also been established in this gallery, containing publications related to Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, including their writings, letters, and other published books.

Until now, Jinnah House remains largely dilapidated, and reconstruction work is ongoing. This dilapidation indicates that a group has done what perhaps even our eternal enemy India could not do last year.

In my columns, I have often mentioned that ‘We are the nation, it’s our breath that gives life to everything.’ The way, a year ago, Army installations were targeted on May 9, it inflicted pain on the nation.

Serving the country is not about chanting slogans, nor is it about politicians or parties.

Every conscious citizen was forced to think about whether our political interests, political parties, and political leaders have become more important than our country.

The way, on May 9, terrorists targeted military installations, and it was not difficult for the army or the police to stop them.

Our law enforcement agencies refrained from imposing any restrictions, fearing that further deaths would exacerbate the situation. However, the protestors interpreted this as a weakness on the part of law enforcement agencies and stormed military installations.

The way these terrorists attacked Lahore’s Corps Commander House, GHQ, Mianwali, Sargodha Air Base, and Peshawar Radio building. a

The Pakistan Army has taken a significant step by announcing to bring these thugs, these political terrorists, into the corridors of law and rejecting any mercy for such elements.

While some politicians argue that these elements should be granted general amnesty, if such a chain of forgiveness continues, in future any group or faction might attack military installations, and then they too would demand amnesty. Therefore, it’s necessary to end this wrong tradition before it takes root.

The Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, has repeatedly expressed determination to establish legality nationwide on May 9 for those elements who perpetrate lawlessness.

There’s no second opinion that the State of Pakistan and the Armed Forces always hold all martyrs and their families in high regard, always viewing their great sacrifices with utmost respect and dignity.

The martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan, the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, government officials, and the people of Pakistan are a source of courage and pride.

After the incidents of May 9, the unity shown by people across Pakistan with the Pakistan Army, which they have been demonstrating for the past year, also indicates that the Pakistan Army resides in the hearts of the people, and every class of Pakistan is still aggrieved over the terrorism of May 9.

I visited Jinnah House recently and witnessed the horror and barbarism played out on May 9.

What happened with this historic building is extremely tragic. This house, which is a part of history itself, was purchased by the founder of Pakistan, and nurtured and maintained by the Pakistan Army, to see it burnt like this would please the enemy. No patriotic Pakistani can be happy with this act.

Now, the establishment of the Jinnah Gallery by the Pakistan Army is a commendable step, which will enlighten the young generation about their heritage.

Politicians should think that they are harming the country in their struggle, speaking the enemy’s language, and targeting their army. If politicians are trained like this, then what need will there be for external enemies?

It’s a moment of reflection for parents too that their children, by becoming victims of fake slogans of political parties, are ruining their future.

Serving the country is not about surrounding and chanting slogans, nor is it about politicians or parties. It is in the service of the country through education, which makes a person good and conscientious, and a conscientious person can never think of harming his country.

The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.