Daily Times

It was quite a sight when Muslims of India witnessed the spectacular presentation ceremony of the Resolution of Pakistan, held at Minto Park in the historic city of Lahore on March 23, 1940. This euphoria was once against witnessed on August 14, 1947, when Muslims carved out their independent state, i.e. Pakistan.

Jinnah did not care even for his swiftly deteriorating health and remained steadfast in his struggle to bestow upon Muslims a separate homeland where they could live under a political dispensation of their own choice.  “Few individuals significantly alter the course of history,” wrote Stanley Wolpert. “Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three,” he added.

Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a modern, progressive and a democratic country drawing its inspiration from dynamic, pristine, and revolutionary primordial Islam with its emphasis on egalitarianism, social justice, and accountability. Jinnah was a fervent believer of the sovereignty of the people, the inviolability of the constitution, supremacy of civilian rule, an absolutely independent, incorruptible judiciary, rule of law and strong, neutral, and honest civil service. Unfortunately, we deplorably failed to translate this vision into reality.

Driven by their vested interests,the venal, power-intoxicated, and politically-illiterate rulers have wreaked havoc on our motherland. Our rulers,both the military dictators and those democratically elected, have done to Pakistan what successors of Lenin did to Soviet Union.

When we look at Pakistan today, what comes to mind? Is it the country that our great Quaid envisioned? No, not at all. It is not Quaid’s Pakistan. Sadly, the beautiful dream seen by our founding father has morphed into a nightmare.

Pakistan emerged on the map of the world as the biggest Muslim country of the world. It was a double winged country comprising of East and West Pakistan. But due to the lust of power and unjust and discriminatory policies of the civil-military ruling elite of West Pakistan, we lost half of the Pakistan. Today we have a truncated and clipped Pakistan.Eyes go wet when one thinks of the trauma that every patriotic Pakistani suffered because of the painful dismemberment of Pakistan in the suicidal war of 1971.Shame on us for miserably failing to preserve and protect the integrity of Quaid’s Pakistan.

Pakistan, which was once the envy of the developing nations, is today pigeonholed as the epicentre of terrorism, a failing if not failed state, an international migraine, and a pariah. Attempts are underway to enlist us as a terrorist state; grey may turn into black at any time and thereby divest us of our nuclear capability. This is all due to the ineffective, directionless and rollercoaster-like foreign policy of those who rule the roost, that we are being treated in such a humiliating way in comity of nations.

Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a modern, progressive and democratic country drawing its inspiration from dynamic, pristine, and revolutionary primordial Islam with its emphasis on egalitarianism, social justice, and accountability

Today’s Pakistan has slid into a deep hole of darkness and chaos. Our rulers have done an irreparable damage to our identity and image. The heyday of our beloved country is gone when the head of our country was given the red-carpet welcome at airport; today our prime minister is asked to pull his attire off to get security clearance. Shame on us! This is what the image of Pakistan today is globally.Today if Pakistan were to look into a mirror, it will not recognise itself. Sadly, the ship of Pakistan has gone adrift.

In fact, Pakistan is not a case of a failed state but a failed leadership. After the painful demise of Jinnah, Pakistan was overtaken by the obnoxious nexus of the civil-military elite. This unholy alliance was endorsed by the then pliant and spineless judiciary. Since then,the rule over the country oscillated between these two centres of powers. Resultantly, Pakistan remained deprived of truly democratic, incorruptible, scrupulous, and selfless leadership.

To conclude, the outcome of the 2018 election is quite heartening; it evinces a ray of hope and a promising future for our country.For this, the people of our country deserve applause for voting for change and thereby made the forces of the status quo history.

It is now up to Imran Khan,who has been voted by the people to restore Pakistan to its lost glory and prestige. Khan sahib, it would be a matter of colossal contentment for the whole nation,if you could at least give us the Pakistan that was envisioned by our Jinnah, if the Naya Pakistan needs more time.

The writer is an Advocate High Court, Jafarabad Balochistan

Published in Daily Times, August 8^th 2018.