Nearly 77 years on since the creation of Pakistan, the nation is still questioned by politicians, intellectuals and historical figures as to the reason for its existence. Was it created as a separate homeland for Muslims, a purely Islamic state, or merely on the whim of its founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah; his obstinacy getting the best of the British and ahem, the Hindus? This piece is not a historical standpoint, since the writer is no historian, rather, it is a mental navigation of sorts by someone who has lived through the end of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the rise and fall of Zia Ul Haq and everything that came after. What Jinnah wanted and how his sister, Fatima Jinnah attempted to carry the torch, is a matter of debate and one for the History text books, which, by the way, do a poor job of laying out the facts, or rather, a good job of covering them?
But what intrigues many Pakistanis, is why the entire planet is bent on attempting to unravel the mystery behind the reason for its creation. Is there a mystery behind the creation of India, do people question why the United States of America came into existence, or the origins of the United Kingdom? There is, however endless argument and debate questioning the wisdom of whether the state of Pakistan was even required to come into being and, whether its present state of fragmentation and dysfunctional politics have anything to do with a decision that was just wrong to begin with.
The vision of the founder deconstructed ala Mission Impossible?
The problem, dear Brutus, lies in the vision of our founder, they say!
Did Jinnah want a secular Pakistan?
Jinnah wanted a separate homeland for the Muslims. He felt that a Muslim minority in a land, any land, wouldn’t stick. He also wanted religious freedom for all religions as is evidenced by his words, repeated often enough by saddened Pakistanis every time a non believer is torched to death on the accusation of blasphemy. Jinnah probably foresaw the RSS driven agenda in India, even before it imprinted its network and mindset into the geo-political map of the country. Jinnah also foresaw the state of minorities in Pakistan, hence his golden words on freedom for all. He foresaw the state of minorities in any nation – Non Hindus in India, Faiths other than Muslims in Pakistan, Blacks in white dominated areas and so on. But what he also saw, was the Machiavellian streak in our leaders to use religion as the opium of the masses.
Jinnah had a super powered crystal ball. And he knew that Muslims at the time, in minority, needed a separate homeland.
You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Consider these famous words from Jinnah as a reminder to return to, every time we stray. Perhaps he knew that all majorities have it in them to snatch away the rights of a minority. And that was his precedent for asking for a separate homeland for Muslims, not settling for them to live in a minority nation. But it also made him sensitive to the plight of minorities, and the need to safe-guard them in a majority Muslim nation. Hence his words above.
Why then, the question surrounding Pakistan’s existence?
The problem occurred when the thinkers of the world could not fit Pakistan (Pakistanis themselves too) in a well thought out formula, a jigsaw puzzle that fit the prefabricated government models of the time. Pakistan is not a theocracy, like Iran, so we rule that one out. Neither is it a secular state. Yet any attempts by religious extremist parties to win a majority in general elections over the years has been defied by the majority of voters. Despite the not so teetotaller Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the 70’s who attempted to bring Islam first (more as a toolkit to retain power), and Zia Ul Haq in the 80’s who attempted to use religion and sought to impose the rule of Shariah as a mass brainwashing tool to win the confidence of the people, Pakistanis resisted. The Hudood ordinance is one such example, where general Zia attempted to use religion and misogyny (who hasn’t bundled these together before to wield sway over the masses?) to create a rule of terror, but that too, was revamped to some extent thank Goodness. The overnight rule that TV presenters cover their heads, went out the window too. The point being, all attempts at injecting theocratic governance on the nation did not result in lasting changes.
The moderates won, as they always do, in Pakistan. Jinnah’s Pakistan.
However, what did happen due to successive rulers who failed to read Jinnah’s writ, was that fanaticism grafted its ugly claws into the lives of the average Pakistani, unwanted fanaticism at times. Hence, the repeated mob attacks and lynching on the name of upholding Islam, allegations of blasphemy preying on the average Pakistanis conscience. Hence the killing of Salman Taseer, governor Punjab, politician, Pakistani citizen, a staunch critic of the blasphemy law, who met his death in 2011 at the hands of extremists. Tragic public incidents such as these allow those who opposed the idea of Pakistan for whatever reason, to call out its existence and its stance on Human Rights issues as well as it judge it as a borderline theocracy.
But hold on, was Prime Minister Indira Gandhi not assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguard? Does this make us question the existence of India as a secular state?
The average Pakistani and Jinnah’s vision, one and the same?
When Jinnah asked for a separate homeland, he also asked for tolerance and for all religions to live side by side in harmony. But can you blame the man, if successive rulers did not follow the assignment? Is the marginalising of communities such as Ahmadis and subsequent blasphemy law a mere tool to carry on the exploitation of the masses, attempting to rein in extremist elements to garner popular support? Israel right wing politics is the same, so is Modi’s Hindutva poised India at present, no? The poignant note here, is that the average Pakistani has resisted, every time an extremist viewpoint or political party has attempted to gain majority. The average Pakistani is very much in sync with Jinnah’s views. Just like the average American in the US who does not support white supremacy, I assume.
Take a look at this story on Pakistan Yatra to get a grasp of the other side.
It is imperative to point out that the quest to question the existence of a nation must stop, because Pakistan has already defied political pundits as to its staying power. Pakistan is here to stay. Whether we have inter-provincial dissension, inter-racial inequalities, language differences, yeah, we hear you, Urdu speaking vs Punjabis vs Pakhtuns vs Balochis vs Seraikis vs Sindhis – this is, but a common denominator of friction in all nations. Diversity is what makes a country culturally rich as well as diametrically opposed. Each people will fight for its due rights, and why not.
Pakistan is the one country that has been painted in a different light by outsiders and divisive powers within the country as well. We are fed limited chunks of religious knowledge, often filtered for interpretation according to the person spreading it, yet our women drive change, from technology to sports, politics, Tech and beyond. We are resilient in that despite the political upheavals, no government has yet been able to complete its term in office over the past 77 years, yet our industries, innovation and entrepreneurship thrive. We are out of the box creative, from digital animations to telling stories, our entertainment industry is marking a foothold beyond its borders, and for a country as small as Pakistan, that is a mark of brilliance on its own. We defy the mould in which others want to place us, democracy, theocracy, socialist state, extremist laws. Yes we harbour tragedy amidst us; mob lynching and crimes against women and bonded labour and domestic abuse but we also have women leaders breaking the glass ceiling, social enterprises, charities, sportsmen and women, Coke Studio, young people named in Forbes, BBC influencers and writers, educationists who are making their mark repeatedly on an international horizon.
“No nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men. There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
It is perhaps in these words that Jinnah cemented the future, telling us to revert to his philosophy lest we forget. And he did not merely use words, but his treatment and respect for the women in his life – Fatima Jinnah, his sister and Ruttie Petit, his wife. Both women were active participants in the public and political activities of the time. Fatima Jinnah walked by his side, not behind him, as was the practice of many women of the time. This is probably why Jinnah’s words, powerful and true, ring out like the chimes of a bell, echoing a reminder that this is what we stand for. And despite the many obstacles Pakistanis have faced, its women have stood out in multiple spheres of public life, even becoming a voice for those who can’t.
What did Jinnah want?
Isn’t this what Jinnah wanted? A workforce that values women too, a country that opens itself up to economic, religious and political freedom of thought. The rulers might have exploited religion to some extent, but the people have always spoken to set the record straight. And this is the challenge. Every nation has one. This is ours.
Yes we have flaws, but who doesn’t. Yes we need to better our score on human rights, a government that governs, an end to poverty, a more equitable distribution of income, more women participating in the economic success of the nation, more children in schools and fewer children out of it.
But that does not change the reason that Pakistan, a separate homeland for a minority, was needed.
When it comes to Pakistan, as to any nation, one wonders about the “ifs and buts”. What if Liaquat Ali Khan had ruled longer, Mohammad Ali Jinnah lived longer, Fatima Jinnah ruled at all, Benazir Bhutto overcome her demons, … What if, Bangladesh had been given its rights earlier, What if, Pakistan never fought the war on terror or that we dissolve centralized power to allow our provinces more authority?
These are all points to be debated by politicians and historians alike, but the only “what if” that needs to stop now, from within Pakistan, yes, there are some who question it too, and without, is… What if, Pakistan did not need to be made.
One has only to look towards our neighbouring state and the politics of religious extremism in a so called secular state to know the answer. Correction, even that secular state has rejected politics of extremism to a great extent by the way, one has to only check out the recent election results in 2024. So when we look at Pakistan, we must consider that our vision too, is ever changing, just like its neighbours. Even though the reasons for its existence remain. The region is open to change, lest we forget, we are united in many ways, culture, Bollywood, Pakistani dramas and more, but divided by a border.
There is a reason for that. There will always be a reason, let’s not let go of the wisdom that guided 1947 and let’s move on to the future, one leader at a time.
What Jinnah wanted from this nation is what the people of Pakistan aim to make it as well, a nation of resilience, economic and gender freedom, equality and religious tolerance. What we got instead is a people who are still striving to make it happen. But distorting Jinnah’s message or attempting to find half truths in his intention needs to stop. Pakistan is here for good or for bad, what we got is a nation that is in sync with its founding father, but that must learn to elect leaders who understand the vision of its makers too.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars that we are underlings, but perhaps, in our ability to vote for leaders who keep Jinnah’s vision intact, or at least, reveal a shadow of the resolve, integrity and steadfastness that guides its people and conscience?
Pakistan is a work in progress, yes we have miles to go before we sleep, and though we lose the way often enough, we seem to find new direction as well. Isn’t that what the journey of nations is all about?
You see, Jinnah’s Pakistan is no longer just Jinnah’s Pakistan now. It is Liaquat Ali’s Pakistan, (possibly) Fatima Jinnah’s Pakistan, Ayub Khan’s Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s Pakistan, Zia Ul Haq’s Pakistan, Benazir’s Pakistan, Imran Khan’s Pakistan and all the rest who came in between and after, and an ever evolving nation, just like all the nation’s of the world. We see glimpses of the rulers who ruled the nation over the years reflected in the Pakistan we have today, and that is, but natural. We might want to revert to Jinnah’s words at every milestone, well, because there was an eloquence, a purity and a lasting quality in the sentiments that guided Faith, Unity, Discipline, but we will continue to move on, just like all the other nations of the world.
Holding on to the past never got anyone anywhere. But learning from the past, aaah, now that’s a different Hi(story) altogether!
And with that thought, we look forward to the many stories that aim to shed light on the life and truth of the founders of Pakistan. Fatima Jinnah, being one such project that will see the light of day very soon.
The forthcoming web series, “Fatima Jinnah,” set to debut in 2024, aims to cast a somber & “not yet seen before” light on the profound journey of a woman who transformed from being a mere sister into an indomitable revolutionary, ultimately rising to the stature of a distinguished stateswoman.
In this highly anticipated series, viewers will witness the pioneering spirit of Fatima Jinnah, breaking barriers, challenging norms, and paving the way for future generations. From her early struggles to her trailblazing leadership, the series promises to encapsulate the essence of Fatima Jinnah’s legacy, offering a compelling portrayal of her enduring impact on society and her timeless relevance in today’s world.
The series, Fatima Jinnah, a creative venture from Aur Digital, is set to air on TV screens in August 2024.
Featuring a stellar cast including Sundas Farhan, Amna Ilyas, Kubra Khan, Aamir Qureshi, Shehrzade Noor Peerzada, Mamya Shahjaffer, Saad Qureshi, Samina Ahmed, Manzar Sehbai, Omer Abdullah Khan, Komal Jamil, Shamim Hilaly, Mohammed Ehteshamuddin, Sarmad Khoosat, Usman Mukhtar and Samar Abbas Jafri, created by Danial K. Afzal, this production is brought to life by Executive Producer Moazzam Majeed. The soundtrack, creatively conceived by Sana Ejaz and Danial K. Afzal, is complemented by Director of Photography Salman Aslam’s vision. With Lead Art Director Reza Shah, Line Producer Rumaan Afsar, and music by Shehreyar Khan.
References: BBC, Britannica, Dawn
