Revolutionist

Pakistan Modern Day Shikwa / Jawab-e-Shikwa

Aamir Yaseen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:43 +0000

Pakistan Modern Day Shikwa / Jawab-e-Shikwa

Shikwa (Complaint from a Pakistani)

Oh Pakistan!

Pure they did name you. Was this a lie or just jest?
For impure you turned out to be when put to the test.

How speedy, how quick, have these six decades passed.
Yet when one is in pain, time is not meant to go fast.

Oh hear our complaint, Oh land of great tragedy,
Treat this not as trivial, or an exercise in mockery.

From Makran to Gilgit, we raised your flag high,
Yet nothing did we reap save a disappointed sigh.

In your mountains you heard our cries of Pak Zindabad,
Were those echoes your reply or was it all a canard?

Frustration abounds when we hear your name,
Leaden-footed we feel as we walk your lanes.

What grief you have wrought, what trials of late.
From the tribulation of this land is there no respite or space?

We gave you our children, we gave you our souls.
What have you returned save for sorrow and woe?

A million and more perished for that 27th night.
Did they not sacrifice so we could all live in light?

But no light is there here, darkness encroaches all-round.
We struggle enchained, ever more tightly bound.

Did our fathers not create you to know freedom and peace?
Why then to their enemies have you been sold and leased?

What say you to them, those martyrs of yours?
Who died at the hands of the savages you abhor?

Those who laid down their lives for your Sacred realm,
So that Believers, and none but, could remain at the helm?

Not their children, but others, then stole,
This Promised Land that we once called home.

Do we not strive for you, are we not slain?
Yet it seems all our struggle is in naught but vain.

Did we not build an army? A force of great might?
With missiles and weapons and jets to fight?

Did we not strive bravely in Jihad in your cause?
Did we not march and fly fearlessly to wars?

What more can we do to protect your mountains and shores?
Yet you still sprout deviants who break all natural laws?

Your enemies vanquished, your protectors return home,
Yet no fruit do they find after the deeds they have sown.

Those that care for you, they see nothing but grief.
Yet why do the most corrupt gain the glory they seek?

Where is the freedom that was rightfully ours?
Why do you prostitute yourself to foreign powers?

So many failures, your achievements so weak,
Surely it cannot be that you have reached your peak?

There is no shade here from the bright burning sun,
Whatever we build, why is it always undone?

Is it so unjust of us to ask, where is order, where is law?
Why is it that your teeming masses are so scandalously poor?

It is time for you to elucidate, time for you to explain,
From your unseemly silence you have nothing to win.

You failed us, time and time and time again.
Will you ever deliver the Promise? How? When?

Jawab-e-Shikwa (Pakistan Sarzameen’s Response)

Oh my people!

Heedless you are, of my glorious fate.
Deniers you are of reality of late.

Pure they named not I, but you who roam above.
Yet pure I remain, it is you who lack Love.

You think I am not pure? Your mothers made wudhu from this dust.
Now you have water, yet your Masajid see rust.

And they perished not, those Mujahideen beloved.
With me they still are, in this land, pure and rugged.

How true they were, to they promise they showed.
With me they still are, and not collections of bones.

Rewards abound for those who sacrifice for me.
How blind you are, for you still do not see?

Success is for those who place others above themselves,
But you can think only of drawing first from the well.

If you expected from me, I felt entitled from you.
Did you not swear by My Lord to create Madinah anew?

Instead you ploughed nothing, and reaped only frustration.
When I call YOU to account, am I above my station?

You ask for order, but what law do you seek?
I despise this foreign law, that makes you so weak.

I did not fail. But instead you failed you.
Yet still My Lord gives, in spite of the evil you do.

Did my Lord not warn against spreading mischief in the land?
Yet still you wonder why peace will not stand?

And believe you that I was created in a single day?
How unmindful you are to think in this way.

When a pious trader crossed through Khyber was I born
It was before your dark age – it was a time of new morn.

When the Caliph heard the woman’s cry, and the young prince-general was dispatched
That, my people, is when my egg was hatched.

Because a fresh breeze did I send to that Beloved of mine.
That Prophet, that Pinnacle, that Man beyond time.

A gift it was, a mere token from me,
For I wished He would pray nightly for the absolution of thee.

Now countless believers roam this land of note.
But how many say a prayer that travels beyond their throat?

You where you tread is a Sacred place?
How confined your minds are in time and space!

What use is a nation, a mountain, a grain of sand -
If it submits not to my Lord’s Mighty Plan?

Sacred is not a word, a thought, a beard on a face,
Only the deed of the believer will cleanse an unclean place.

Do you wish for yourselves a Jannah on Earth?
Between these valleys, deserts and cities of no worth?

Then plant Jannah in your hearts, or do you not care,
For the trials and aches laid to entrap you there?

Traps they are not, nor are they jails.
Liberation lies therein from your complaints and wails.

So straighten your direction! Face Makkah I say,
Toward the House of your Lord – there is no other way!

Heedless you are, of my glorious fate.
Deniers you are of reality of late.

If not you, then let your sons and daughters come.
It is they who will see glory, once you have long-gone.

Atif F Qureshi

The Jinnah-Iqbal Bill: A Response to the Kerry-Lugar Bill

Aamir Yaseen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:57:14 +0000

The Jinnah-Iqbal Bill: A Response to the Kerry-Lugar Bill

To implement the ideology of Pakistan purported by Qaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal, to promote an enhanced relationship of this nation with its ideology and for no ‘other’ purposes.

Be it enacted by General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani and the Armed Forces of Pakistan as a Representation of the Will of the People of Pakistan.

SECTION 1: TITLE

This Act may be cited as the ‘The Sovereignty and Dignity of the People of Pakistan Act of 2009’.

SECTION 2: FINDINGS

We, the people of Pakistan, make the following findings:

(A)

(1) The people of Pakistan have a long history of being used by the United States as a pawn in its plans for world domination. It is clear to us now that the Pakistani interest is not well –served by the meddling of the United States in the affairs of our state.

(2) The people of Pakistan will never give up their sovereignty, their dignity and will not let their government sell the country for so called financial ‘aid’.

(3) Despite the fact that Pakistan has been a major ally of the U.S in the so called ‘war on terror’ , the U.S continues to kill hundreds of Pakistani citizens in drone attacks which are seen as a major onslaught on the sovereignty of the Pakistani nation and a violation of our international borders.

(4) The U.S support for terrorist activities inside Pakistan, compounded by the hostile Indian presence on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has led to the deaths of several thousand Pakistani civilians and members of the security forces of Pakistan over the past 8 years and any more of this outrage is unacceptable to the people of Pakistan.

(5) Despite the sacrifices and cooperation of the security forces of Pakistan, the United States continues to support and fund separatist movements in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan.

(6) The continued hostility of the United States towards the Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies of Pakistan, as well as the spread of disinformation regarding the Nuclear Assets of Pakistan.

(7) The ultimate U.S goals of destroying Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons and to exert complete control over the military institutions of Pakistan have now become very clear from the Kerry-Lugar Bill.

(B)

(1) In the long political history of Pakistan, Pakistanis have often been deceived by corrupt politicians in the existing ‘democratic’ structure. Section 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Pakistan clearly define that each candidate applying as a potential candidate for the Parliament needs to be someone who is honest, sagacious, righteous and ameen. It is quite evident that this section of the Constitution has not been implemented in the past as well in the current government.

(2) The current regime has failed to run the country and look after its people and has not been able to make timely decisions in order to protect the sovereignty of the Pakistani nation. Also, this present regime has been found to be in cohorts with elements that are hostile to the Pakistani State.

SECTION 3: OUR MESSAGE TO GENERAL KAYANI AND THE ARMED FORCES OF PAKISTAN: NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT WITH U.S AND NATO FORCES

(A)

(1) We support the patriotic elements in both the civilian and military establishments who have demonstrated the wisdom and courage to oppose the Kerry-Luger bill.

(2) We assure Gen. Kayani that he has the unequivocal support of every concerned citizen of Pakistan in taking a firm stand to protect the ideological and physical borders of Pakistan.

(3) The Pakistani nation is not for sale and we once again reiterate the resolve that this nation has had since its inception: that we will eat grass but we will stand on our own two feet and not bow to imperial masters.

(4) Based on the findings in Section 2, it is imperative that the current regime is forced to reconsider Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in terms of engaging with the Americans and other actors in the so called ‘theatre of war’ created by U.S presence in this region.

(5) We demand that the current U.S diplomats in Islamabad including the ambassador be expelled on grounds of interference with internal matters of Pakistan.

(6) We also demand the deportation of U.S contractors and mercenaries currently operating on Pakistani soil.

(7) We demand that the U.S embassy in Pakistan is reduced to 10% of its current size, both in terms of area and personnel.

(8) No Visas be issued to any American citizen without clearance from Pakistan’s security agencies.

(9) Pakistan does not need aid from the U.S or any other country. It is time that we used this opportunity to take a stand against corruption and injustice in Pakistan. The Kerry-Luger bill is a challenge to the Pakistani nation and it shall be met with dignity and honour.

It is time for the Pakistani nation to remember who we really are and our real potential. This bill is an attempt to subdue us into slaves of imperialist forces and is a bait to harness the ‘shaheens’ of this dignified nation.

Aye Taair-e-Lahooti us rizq say Maut achhee
Jis rizq say aati ho parwaaz mein kotahi

Let us join hands and implement the ‘Jinnah-Iqbal Bill’. This is what the people of Pakistan want and this is what the father of this nation strove for.

Pakistan Payendabad!
Sorurce: PakistanKaKhudaHafiz

From Iqbal’s Dream to Takmeel-e-Pakistan

Aamir Yaseen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:52:59 +0000

From Iqbal’s Dream to Takmeel-e-Pakistan

Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal envisioned a sovereign and independent state for the Muslims of Sub-continent. A state where Islamic teachings will establish the core ideology, a way of life and socio-politico-economic system, practiced as the true religion and celebrated as the ideal way of life. His vision was not merely a dream rather it was a divine invocation, an order from the spiritual domain, which was destined, to be executed, which already had Almighty’s approval, which He brought into existence for a special purpose.

The personality appointed by Almighty to propagate the underlying ideology, which ultimately laid the foundation of Pakistan, was Allama Iqbal. He was more than a scholar, more than a philosopher, more than a saint and much more than a visionary. We cannot attempt to sum up in one article what this legend really was, since he himself once said, “Iqbal himself isn’t aware of what Iqbal really is”. What we know and should always remember is that he was the one who ignited the spark of self-awareness in the Muslims of Sub-continent, who infused the passion to acquire freedom and independence in the blood of Muslim youth of the time. He was who unveiled the true meaning and spirit of Islam and hope in the otherwise pessimistic minority.

“Kia ajab meri nawa-haaye sahar gaahi say
Zinda ho jaye woh aatish kai teri khaak mein hai”

Allama Iqbal uplifted the spirits of Muslims at the time of great misery and darkness. At a time when the nexus of Hindus and the British rulers was leaving no stone unturned to damage Muslims, deploying all the resources and means to malign the Muslim identity and exerting full force to crush them as an ideological nation. The deceitful British rulers had no intention of doing any good to Muslims and instead they connived with Hindus to throw the Muslim nation in front of the Hindu scavengers as a helpless prey.

Allama Iqbal’s poetry was the divine voice from the sky that was channelized through Iqbal’s soul, it came as the true reflection of the message of Islam. The incredible message that revitalized the uncivilized Arabs, the message that triggered burning passion in the hearts of the Muslims of Sub-continent, infusing them with paramount courage. Allama Iqbal was most certainly the chosen one who was assigned the duty to rejuvenate the nation and to convey the glad tidings about the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim State.

He made Muslims realize, what they actually are, what their true stature is and that they shouldn’t be overwhelmed by any kind of complex, fear and frustration:

“Apni Millat par qayaas aqwaam-e-maghrib say na kar
Khaas hai tarkeeb mein qaum-e-Rasool-e-Hashmi”

“Un ki Jamiat ka hai mulk-o-nasb par inhesaar
Qoowat-e-Mazhab say mustahkam hai jamiat teri”

He imparted the message of hope and belief, the message of oneness of the Muslim nation and gathered the confused, scared and scattered Muslims on a single platform:

“Millat kai saath raabta istawaar rakh
Paywasta reh shajar say umeed-e-bahar rakh”

“Fard qaim rabt-e-millat say hai tanha kuch nahin
Mauj hai darya mein bayroon-e-darya kuch nahin”

He likened Muslim youngsters with “Shaheen” (Falcon) and gave them the inspiration to have the vision, the flight, the character and the attitude of a Falcon. He established that this character and attitude would actually enable them to reach their destiny, to achieve what they deserve and to regain their lost glory.

“Tu Shaheen hai Parwaaz hai kaam tera
Tere saamnay aasmaan aur bhi hai”

“Nahin tera nasheman qasr-e-sultani kai gumbad par
Tu Shaheen hai basera kar pahaarhoon ki chatanon mein”

Iqbal then led the Muslims towards even broader scope and higher goal. He was a visionary, an ideologue and a foreseer, He saw it long ago that the Islamic empire will be resurrected yet again, no matter what happens, no matter how adverse would apparently be the conditions for Muslims, no matter what the elite of the world plans, he had his faith in just one fact that Allah is the best of all planners. He was convinced that the Almighty has decided for this nation to rise again and this time it will be in the true spirit of Islam.

He further saw, even before the creation of Pakistan that the Muslims of this Islamic state to be established in the sub-continent will ultimately lead this rise of Islam. It is their destiny and a duty that has been assigned to this nation. With his poetry, Iqbal unveiled this word and also urged Muslims to be prepared for it, get ready for it and to work towards achieving it:

“Sabaq phir parh, Sadaqat ka, Adalat ka, Shuja’at ka
Lia jaye ga tujh say kaam dunia kia imaamat ka”

“Yaqeen afraad ka sarmaaya-e-tameer-e-millat hai
Yehi qoowat hai jo soorat gar-e-taqdeer-e-millat hai”

At one point, Pakistan Movement was surrounded by total frustration and despair. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was so disheartened that he flew to London and settled there leaving everything behind. It was Allama Iqbal who gave him the spiritual inspiration that he needed and brought him back. It was Iqbal’s spiritual support and presence in the background, which transformed Muhammad Ali Jinnah into Quaid-e-Azam.

Allama Iqbal left this world in 1938, about 9 years before Pakistan’s creation, but his poetry had already set the Muslim souls on fire and ignited burning flames of love in the hearts and complete devotion to achieve the impossible, do the unthinkable.

Pakistan resolution was passed in Lahore in 1940 and an independent, sovereign state for the Muslims of Sub-continent came into being on August 14, 1947. It was just 17 years after Iqbal dreamt about it and transfused the vision in Muslims. Almighty blessed us with the gift of Pakistan where Muslims could live with peace, harmony and freedom and practice the religion of Islam in its true sense.

Unfortunately, Iqbal’s dream was only partially realized ever since independence. We were blessed with a sacred Islamic state but we converted into a mere piece of land. Since the time of its inception till today, we have been unable to take Pakistan to the heights it deserved; we couldn’t make it the fortress of Islam. We hadn’t established the systems on the basis of Islamic teachings, and as a result, Pakistan ended up as a state with injustice, conflicts, economic and social problems, resource misuse and mismanagement, corrupt leaders and bad governance.

Pakistan was hence created but never completed or ‘realized’. The people of Pakistan have been waiting for a time when the dreams that were seen at the time of its creation, will come true. They have been waiting for a system that would facilitate them, an environment that will liberate them from their troubles and desolation.

That wait is about to be over! The winds of change have already started to blow. The scenario is changing and the dynamics of the state are taking the right direction! The Shaheens of Iqbal have finally awakened. They have realized what went wrong with their country and how to correct it. They have understood what Pakistan was meant to be and what the traitors and disloyal people along with their foreign masters are trying to transform it into. The youth of Pakistan is now recognizing, why our enemies fear Pakistan and why they want to destabilize it. They are afraid of the potential of the Muslims of Pakistan, but ultimately they are scared of its destiny.

Very close to his last days, Iqbal wrote his masterpiece “Iblees ki Majlis-e-Shura” (Devil’s advisory council). He said:

“Hai Khatar koi mujh ko to is ummat say hai
Jis ki khaakister mein hai ab tuk Sharaar-e-Aarzoo”

“Asr-e-haazir kai taqazaaon say hai lekin yeh khuaf
Ho na jaye aashkaara Shar’a-e-Paighambar kaheen”

All sorts of efforts are being made and conspiracies have been crafted to curb the potential of Pakistan. But as Iqbal predicted, a wave of self-realization is propagating across the country. Despite all the frustration, problems, evil designs of both internal and external elements, the awakening is happening.

“Millat-e-Bayza ki phir sheeraza bandee hai
Shakh-e-Hashmi karnay ko hai phir barg-e-bar paida”

“Ata momin ko phir dargah-e-haq say honay wala hai
Shikoh-e-Turkamani, zehen-e-Hindi, nutq-e-Araabi”

We, the youth of Pakistan are now geared up with all our passion to realize the unfulfilled part of Iqbal’s dream. We now stand together to serve, build, protect and defend our beloved Pakistan. Our elders brought Pakistan into existence by Allah’s will after countless sacrifices and we are also ready to shed our lives for our country if need be.

On this day, we promise Hakeem-ul-Ummat, our spiritual leader, guide and mentor, Allama Iqbal, that we’ll bring his mission to accomplishment. We will do anything to take Pakistan to its destiny. We will do what we can to put in place the system the ideology on the basis of which Pakistan was created. We’ll put in all efforts to bring justice, peace, harmony and prosperity to our beloved land in accordance with our religious teachings.

We promise that we will prepare Pakistan to take up its fated role in the world and we will Insha’Allah take Pakistan towards its ultimate Takmeel.

“Aflaak say ata hai naaloon ka jawaab aakhir
Kartay hein khitaab aakhir, uthtay hein hijaab aakhir

Mein tujh ko batata hoon taqdeer-e-umam kia hai
Shamsheer-o-sinaa awwal, Taoos-o-rabaab aakhir

Khilwat ki gharhee guzree, jalwat ki gharheee ayee
Chhutnay ko hai bujli say aaghosh-e-sahaab aakhir”

Iqbal’s prayer for the youth of Pakistan:

Jawaanoon ko meri aah-e-sahar dey
Phir in Shaheen bachchoon ko baal-o-par dey

Khudaya! aarzoo meri yehi hai
Mera noor-e-baseerat aam kar dey

Source: PakistanKaKhudaHafiz

The Tasks Ahead – Quaid-e-Azam

Aamir Yaseen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:50:10 +0000

The Tasks Ahead – By Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah

Speech at a Mammoth Rally at the University
Stadium, Lahore on 30th October. 1947

We have achieved our cherished goal of freedom and have established Pakistan as an independent, sovereign State, fifth largest in the world. That freedom can never be attained by a nation without suffering and sacrifice has been amply borne out by the recent tragic happenings in this subcontinent. We are in the midst of unparalleled difficulties and untold sufferings; we have been through dark days of apprehension and anguish; but I can say with confidence that with courage and self-reliance and by the Grace of God we shall emerge triumphant.

Some people might think that the acceptance of the June 3 Plan was a mistake on the part of the Muslim League. I would like to tell them that the consequences of any other alternative would have been too disastrous to imagine. On our side we proceeded to implement this plan with a clean conscience and honest intentions. Time and history will prove that. On the other hand, history will also record its verdict on those whose treachery and machinations let loose forces of disorder and disruption in this subcontinent causing death of lakhs, enormous destruction of property and bringing about suffering and misery to many million by uprooting them from their homes and hearths and all that was dear to them. The systematic massacre of defenseless and innocent people puts to shame even the most heinous atrocities committed by the worst tyrant known to history. We have been the victims of a deeply-laid and well-planned conspiracy executed with utter disregard of the elementary principle of honesty, chivalry and honor. We thank Providence for giving us courage and faith to fight these forces of evil. If we take our inspiration and guidance from the Holy Quran, the final victory, I once again say, will be ours.

Do not for a moment imagine that your enemies can ever succeed in their designs. But at the same time do not make light of the situation facing you. Search your hearts and whether you have done your part in the construction of this new and mighty State.

Do not be over whelmed by the enormity of the task. There is many an example in history of young nations building themselves up by sheer determination and force of character. You are made of sterling material and are second to none. Why should you also not succeed like many others, like your own forefathers. You have only to develop the spirit of the “Mujahids”. You are a nation whose history is replete with people of wonderful grit, character and heroism. Live up to your traditions and add to it another chapter of glory.

All I require of you now is that everyone of us to whom this message reaches must vow to himself and be prepared to sacrifice his all, if necessary, in building up Pakistan as a bulwark of Islam and as one of the greatest nations whose ideal is peace within and peace. Your immediate task is the rehabilitation of millions of our distressed and unfortunate brethren who are either already with us or who have still to join us in Pakistan, bereft of all they possessed or had in this world. The least we now can do for them is to receive them as our own brethren. No decent or sane person should consider that they are unwelcome burden thrust on us. Save all you can and give towards the relief of these victims of bestiality and vandalism who have suffered all this for the sole reason that they are Muslims.

Along with this, keep up your morale. Do not be afraid of death. Our religion teaches us to be always prepared for death. We should face it bravely to save the honor of Pakistan and Islam. There is no better salvation for a Muslim than the death of a martyr for a righteous cause.

I would also impress upon every member of this State, particularly our youth, to show the right spirit of devotion, courage and fortitude, to give a lead to the others and to set a nobler and higher example for those who may follow us and the coming generations.

Remember that the scrupulous maintenance and enforcement of law and order are the prerequisites of all progress. The tenets of Islam enjoin on every Mussalman to give protection to his neighbors and to the minorities regardless of caste and creed. Despite the treatment, which is being meted out to the Muslim minorities in India, we must make it a matter of our prestige and honor to safeguard the lives of the minority communities and to create a sense of security among them. I would like to impress upon every Mussalman, who has at heart the welfare and the prosperity of Pakistan, to avoid retaliation and to exercise restraint, because retaliation and violation of law and order will ultimately result in weakening the very foundations of the edifice you have cherished all these years to erect.

Do your duty and have faith in God. There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan. It has come to stay. Our deeds are proving to the world that we are in the right and I can assure you that the sympathies of the world, particularly of the Islamic countries, are with you. We in turn are grateful to every nation who has stretched out to us its hand of help and friendliness.

In the end, I once again appeal to the good sense of every subject and citizen of our State not to take law and order into his own hands but so to behave and act as to be a pillar of strength to his Government and leaders who are sincerely doing their best to put an end to the miseries and hardships of our unfortunate brethren seeking shelter with us, and battling against grave danger and menace which is facing us.

Pakistan Zindabad

Jinnah’s Pakistan

Aamir Yaseen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:47:27 +0000

Mr. Jinnah’s Presidential Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan August 11, 1947

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen!

I cordially thank you, with the utmost sincerity, for the honor you have conferred upon me – the greatest honor that is possible to confer – by electing me as your first President. I also thank those leaders who have spoken in appreciation of my services and their personal references to me. I sincerely hope that with your support and your co-operation we shall make this Constituent Assembly an example to the world.

The Constituent Assembly has got two main functions to perform.

The first is the very onerous and responsible task of framing the future constitution of Pakistan and the second of functioning as a full and complete sovereign body as the Federal Legislature of Pakistan.

We have to do the best we can in adopting a provisional constitution for the Federal Legislature of Pakistan. You know really that not only we ourselves are wondering but, I think, the whole world is wondering at this unprecedented cyclonic revolution which has brought about the clan of creating and establishing two independent sovereign Dominions in this sub-continent. As it is, it has been unprecedented; there is no parallel in the history of the world. This mighty sub-continent with all kinds of inhabitants has been brought under a plan which is titanic, unknown, unparalleled. And what is very important with regards to it is that we have achieved it peacefully and by means of an evolution of the greatest possible character.

Dealing with our first function in this Assembly, I cannot make any well-considered pronouncement at this moment, but I shall say a few things as they occur to me.

The first and the foremost thing that I would like to emphasize is this: remember that you are now a sovereign legislative body and you have got all the powers. It, therefore, places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decisions.

The first observation that I would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.

The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering – I do not say that other countries are free from it, but, I think our condition is much worse – is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand and I hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this Assembly to do so.

Black-marketing is another curse. Well, I know that black marketeers are frequently caught and punished. Judicial sentences are passed or sometimes fines only are imposed. Now you have to tackle this monster, which today is a colossal crime against society, in our distressed conditions, when we constantly face shortage of food and other essential commodities of life.

A citizen who does black-marketing commits, I think, a greater crime than the biggest and most grievous of crimes. These black marketeers are really knowing, intelligent and ordinarily responsible people, and when they indulge in black-marketing, I think they ought to be very severely punished, because the entire system of control and regulation of foodstuffs and essential commodities, and cause wholesale starvation and want and even death.

The next thing that strikes me is this: Here again it is a legacy which has been passed on to us. Along with many other things, good and bad, has arrived this great evil, the evil of nepotism and jobbery. I want to make it quite clear that I shall never tolerate any kind of jobbery, nepotism or any any influence directly of indirectly brought to bear upon me. Whenever I will find that such a practice is in vogue or is continuing anywhere, low or high, I shall certainly not countenance it.

I know there are people who do not quite agree with the division of India and the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Much has been said against it, but now that it has been accepted, it is the duty of everyone of us to loyally abide by it and honorably act according to the agreement which is now final and binding on all. But you must remember, as I have said, that this mighty revolution that has taken place is unprecedented. One can quite understand the feeling that exists between the two communities wherever one community is in majority and the other is in minority. But the question is, whether it was possible or practicable to act otherwise than what has been done. A division had to take place.

On both sides, in Hindustan and Pakistan, there are sections of people who may not agree with it, who may not like it, but in my judgment there was no other solution and I am sure future history will record is verdict in favor of it. And what is more, it will be proved by actual experience as we go on that was the only solution of India’s constitutional problem. Any idea of a united India could never have worked and in my judgment it would have led us to terrific disaster. Maybe that view is correct; maybe it is not; that remains to be seen.

All the same, in this division it was impossible to avoid the question of minorities being in one Dominion or the other. Now that was unavoidable. There is no other solution. Now what shall we do?

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.

If you will work in co-operation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed. 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.

I cannot emphasize it too much. We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community, because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on, and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vashnavas, Khatris, also Bengalis, Madrasis and so on, will vanish.

Indeed if you ask me, this has been the biggest hindrance in the way of India to attain the freedom and independence and but for this we would have been free people long long ago. No power can hold another nation, and specially a nation of 400 million souls in subjection; nobody could have conquered you, and even if it had happened, nobody could have continued its hold on you for any length of time, but for this. Therefore, we must learn a lesson from this.

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. As you know, history shows that in England, conditions, some time ago, were much worse than those prevailing in India today. The Roman Catholics and the Protestants persecuted each other. Even now there are some States in existence where there are discriminations made and bars imposed against a particular class.

Thank God, we are not starting in those days. We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State. The people of England in course of time had to face the realities of the situation and had to discharge the responsibilities and burdens placed upon them by the government of their country and they went through that fire step by step.

Today, you might say with justice that Roman Catholics and Protestants do not exist; what exists now is that every man is a citizen, an equal citizen of Great Britain and they are all members of the Nation.

Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.

Well, gentlemen, I do not wish to take up any more of your time and thank you again for the honor you have done to me. I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fair play without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will, in other words, partiality or favoritism. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest nations of the world.

I have received a message from the United States of America addressed to me. It reads:

I have the honor to communicate to you, in Your Excellency’s capacity as President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, the following message which I have just received from the Secretary of State of the United States:

On the occasion of of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly for Pakistan, I extend to you and to the members of the Assembly, the best wishes of the Government and the people of the United States for the successful conclusion of the great work you are about to undertake.