Dawn was founded by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In a run-up to his birthday celebrations this year, tell us, and the Quaid, in one sentence how you think Jinnah would have viewed his and our Pakistan today. Please give your name, age, profession and location at the end of your message. For example, “Pakistan is indeed your dream come true.” —Shehla Mirza, 27, physician, Peshawar
A selection of these comments will be published in the Quaid-i-Azam Day (December 25) Special edition of Dawn.
The giant we once promised to be,
Spoilt, the dream that once was.
The vision of a barrister-at-arms,
Tainted by countless worms.
Hasan Qureshi, a Pakistani
He would still have said what he said in 1947 “Unity, Faith, Discipline”….Alas we haven’t mastered either of those three in over 60 years!
I think he would say ” Idea of human freedom remains one of the most greatest idea, that the world has ever know and efforts to transform this idea by embedding any other dogmas shall bound to fail” – Iftekhar Hassan, Washington DC U.S.A.
He would cry.
Saifur Rahman, Analyst, Mississauga, Canada
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, would have viewed this country, a place for everyone alike, a govt of this country without discrimination for any sect or school of thought alike, opportunities to progress for all the citizen of this country alike, religious freedom to practice thier faith in the manner they choose to practice alike. Are the leaders starting from Z.A. Bhutto till todate has respected this dream of Quaid?
Indeed not, so what have they given to Pakistan, a country without electricity, a country without gass, a poverty for the poors, and what and what not.
I feel shame when I compare the situation of Pakistan today with the dream of Quaid.
i think the rebirth of Pakistan is required ,it is not Jinnah Pakistan at the moment but i am very optimistic that very soon we will be on the path of Jinnah Pakistan.we need an honest,committed and intellegent leader to put nation on Jinnah Pakistan path.
I think the most shocking discovery for the Quaid would have been to discover the current state of Indo-Pak relations. These countries were not destined to be enemies. The Quaid even wanted to retire and settle in Bombay. Imran, 43, Physician, UK
Quaid e Azam’s vision was to see Pakistan to be a secular state; where neither the fanatics had a free hand to kill people nor the foreigners would dare kill them and go scot free.
I think he would be horrified at the dictatorships and religious extremism running amock in the country. He would regard all this efforts as wasted.
Wanted to compliment Dawn for keeping Quaid’s vision alive in the younger generation. Dawn has played a huge role integrating this country as a nation. Dawn has not succumbed to cheap commercial journalism practiced and promoted by other news tycoons.
“your job is to defend the borders and not to mingle in politics. Rather than drawing the foreign policy of Pakistan with my foreign minister, go and root out the terrorists who are killing our people”.
This is what Jinnah would have said to our top spy Shuja Pasha.
“Gandhi was right!” – Farooq Ismail Khan, 58, Doctor, UK
I think he would automatically assume you’re asking a rhetorical question.
If our father of the nation the Qaid -a-azam Muhammad Ali Junnah were alive today with us he would surely say I’m still hopeful that you people shall succeed to make our Pakistan strong and progressive by working hard with proper planning and depending on yourselves, not on foreigners who would never let you become self sufficient because they want you to become their puppet and do as they want you do.
He’ll say that this Pakistan is not mine because my beautifull Pakistan is very glorious and I’m very disappoint of presant situation of PAK but we all have to stand on a platform with possitivly mind.
Pakistan “to be a place where poeple can live free from any kind of oppression”
He would have been appalled at the state of affairs..
If Jinnah was still alive to see the monster Pakistan has become he would have hold his head in shame and retire to the oblivion of London. He warned us about Mullah’s and extremism brewing in India even as far back as 1920’s.
Jinah would have said ” Army go o the barracks, children go to the school and youth go to universities” that is the only way pakistan of today can turn itself around.
Sharma,30,Medicine, India
Agreed, but you have not addressed the major factor of unbridled corruption.
I hope one day Pakistan will come out of this crisis. I hope the new Pakistan will be a close friend of India and Indian People. Same like EU, we can have a union with Afganistan Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhuttan, Maldives and Burma.
I wish he were alive. He would have settled all the border disputes fully by now. The world around Pakistan would have been heaven. SAARC would have been a tremendous success. Economies, education and health-care far advanced. Bangladesh would still be East Pakistan. The minorities in all the surrounding nations would have enjoyed constitutional rights. I can go on and on……………….
The dream of Quaid-e-Azam was a true democratic and Islamic republic of Pakistan.He had the dream that Pakistan would be a welfare state where everyone regardless of his religious affiliation and race/caste will be granted all the opportunities and rights and will hold true Islamic values.Omar,26,student,Attock City
If Mohmmad Ali Jinah was alive another 10 years he can make Pakistan and set example. Unfortunately he dies so soon. Still his speeches are the proof what kind of Pakistan he wanted. Anyone cares?
Is this what the people sacrified for? Over 15 million people crossed borders to and from India …what for?
” Is this what i fought so hard for ” – Anam Mushtaq, 23 , Student of Political Science, Canada.