Wednesday, May 23, 2012

04/21/09, Opinion Editorial, printed in Pakistan Daily

Pakistan Daily





Dreams of Jinnah
By Qamar Ahmad

 "You may belong to any religion or caste or creed; that has nothing to do with the business of the State."

Founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah stated the above as part of his Presidential address to the Constituent assembly of Pakistan 3 days before Pakistan's creation. Jinnah saw religio-ethnic discrimination coupled with mingling of church and state as the biggest barriers to Pakistan's stability and progress.

How prophetic!

61 years later, Pakistan's federal and provincial governments are continuing to meddle with religion for political gains. On April 11th, Tuhafzai Khatmai Nubawat hosted conference in Badshahi Mosque in Lahore under the sponsorship of Punjab Government. Before and during the conference, the organizers and speakers provoked hatred against Ahmadies. This conference and other such recent gatherings in Multan and Faisalabad under the blessing of Punjab government are a shocking development. Even Government Intelligence agencies have reported a rise in anti-Ahmadiyya violence in Punjab.

We urge Punjab Government to steer clear of dirty politics. Democracy is desirable in its own right. Pakistan deserves better!

"If you change your past and work together in a spirit that everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges, and obligations, there will be on end to the progress you will make."

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

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