On Jinnah's Speech Before Pakistan's First Constituent Assembly
In his speech on August 11, 1947 to Pakistan's first Constituent Assembly he said Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims were equal citizens of Pakistan. He said all are one.
I feel Jinnah in the last days of his life wanted to keep Muslim fundamentalists away from power. He wanted a modern Pakistan like Turkey. He admired Kemal Pasha, who turned Turkey from an orthodox Muslim country to a modern secular State.
I feel he also wanted to promote his image in the international arena.
There was an interesting incident that happened in August 1947.
Lord Mountbatten, the last British viceroy, told Jinnah that Pakistan should reflect the rule of Emperor Akbar, who treated all religions with respect. Jinnah replied: 'Muslims know how to treat non-Muslims. We don't need to learn from Akbar when our Prophet Mohammad preached the same thing in his lifetime.'
In his last days he met India's ambassador to Pakistan Sri Prakasa and told him that creating Pakistan was his biggest mistake. He asked Sri Prakasa to convey to Jawaharlal Nehru that he wanted to return to India and settle down in Jinnah House in Mumbai.
Photograph: Three Lions/Getty Images
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