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The Role of Quaid-e-Azam
Prelude
The services and dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the Pakistan Movement need no introduction. In this movement, the personality of Quaid-e-Azam and his immense struggle made the tough pall of the foundation of Pakistan easy and finally, the Muslims of India were successful in reading their destination for which they underwent a long journey under the Quaid.
The Services of Quaid-e-Azam
During his stay in London, Mohammad Ali Jinnah thoroughly studied the British Parliament. He also remained the private secretary of Dadabhoy Noorogi. He became the member of Indian National Congress in 1906 till 1909. Due to these activities his political understanding and his abilities in law had become a universal truth. Therefore, when the elections of Legislative council took place under Minto-Morley Reforms, so the Quaid-e-Azam become the member of Council from Bombay. This was Quaid-e-Azam’s first step in politics.
Quaid-e-Azam was called the "Ambassador of Hindu Muslim Unity because he thought it was important for the independence of Sub Continent that there is complete unity among the Muslims and Hindus. In 1913, when he became the member of Muslim League, he made hectic efforts for this unity.
In 1916, the joint session of the Muslim League and Congress was held in Lucknow. On this historical occasion, an agreement was signed between the Muslims and Hindus leaders which could lay the foundation of Hindu Muslim unity, this agreement is known as Lucknow Pact. The man who was behind this was Quaid-e-Azam.
In 1928, Pundit Moti Lal Nehru, presented a report which turned down all the Muslims demand. On the reply of Nehru report, Quaid-e-Azam made a chart of minimum demands of Muslims and it was known as Quaid-e-Azam’s Fourteen Points." This was the certainly the right answer to the Nehru report.
In 1933, Quaid-e-Azam was elected as the permanent President of Muslim League due to which he permanently came back to India in October 1935 and remained busy in the reconstruction of Muslim League.
Quaid-e-Azam made some speeches in favour of Government of India Act (1935), due to which the British Government accepted this Act. According to Indian Act the provincial elections were scheduled in 1935. Quaid-e-Azam travelled throughout the country for the elections campaign so that he could unite the Muslims opinion but his efforts did not proved to be successful. The Muslims suffered defeat even in Muslim majority areas. However, Quaid-e-Azam remained hard as rock during these difficult times.
When the Muslims of majority provinces observed the rational attitude of the Congress, they tried to make the Muslim League effective and influential. Therefore, Punjab, Bengal and Sindh became near to Jinnah and the Muslims of these areas decided to work under the Muslim League.
On 23rd March, 1940, the historical session of the Muslim League was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Jinnah at Minto Park, Lahore. At this historical occasion a resolution known as Pakistan Resolution was passed in which the Muslims demanded for the first separate independent homeland.
Gandhi held talks with Jinnah to discuss about the future of India, but no fruitful results came out of it because Gandhi did not accept Muslims as a separate nation.
Louis Feisher wrote:
"The wall between Jinnah and Gandhi was the Two Nation Theory."
Lord Wavell called a conference at Simla. The conference failed to achieve any purpose due to one-sided attitude of Lord Wavell. In this conference, Quaid-e-Azam made it crystal clear that only the Muslim League can represent Muslims of India.
Elections for the central and provincial assemblies were held in 1945-1946 in which Muslim League won 30 seats of central legislative meant for Muslims and 430 seats out of 495 in the provincial legislative. Quaid-e-Azam said on this occasion:
"I have no doubt now in the acheivement of Pakistan. The Muslims of India told the world what they want. No power of world can topple the opinion of 10 crore Muslims of India."
On 14th August, 1947, Pakistan came into being as a separate self-governing Dominion and the Quaid-e-Azam became the first Governor General of Pakistan.
The problems which the Quaid-e-Azam had to face as Governor General of Pakistan were not only due to the happenings in East Punjab, and to provide shelter for the millions of refugees. What immensely increased the difficulties of the new state was the fact that it had yet to organize itself.
Death of the Great Leader
It was due to immense hard work for the Muslims that his health failed. The great leader breathed his last on the 11th September 1948 and was buried at Karachi. His demise was mourned not only by Pakistan but by the whole world.
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