12 September 2004	Sunday	26 Rajab 1425

LAHORE, Sept 11: Speakers at a meeting on Saturday deplored that the Quaid's vision for making Pakistan an Islamic democratic welfare state could not be realised during the past 56 years.

The meeting was held by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Foundation and the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust here in connection with the 56th death anniversary of the Quaid-i-Azam with Dr Javid Iqbal in the chair.

Pakistan Movement worker and federal minister Mahmood Ali said the Quaid's principles, ideas and character were the best legacy for the people of Pakistan, which would continue to guide them.

He said the Quaid wanted Pakistan to be a democratic state but repeated military interventions spoiled the Quaid's dream.

Gen Ayub Khan had abrogated the constitution of 1956, which had been passed by the constituent assembly, and the country's first general election could not be held. The general promulgated his own constitution, which provided for a presidential form of government, he added.

Mr Ali criticized the government for towing the US policies. The people of Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya and other parts of the world were struggling for their independence but they had been labelled as terrorists. Freedom fighters could never be terrorists, he maintained.

In fact the forces, which were suppressing their freedom struggle by committing atrocities upon them, were themselves terrorists.

He said the Quaid's motto of "Faith, Unity and Discipline" for the Muslims of the subcontinent during the Pakistan Movement which had infused a spirit of struggle among them, had been distorted as "Unity, Faith and Discipline" by the people who had been at the helm of affairs in the free state.

He said unless there was faith in leadership there could not be unity or discipline. Thus faith was the first concept, he added.

Dr Iqbal said the Quaid was opposed to regionalism or provincialism and sectarianism and had urged the nation not to fall prey to these evils. Unfortunately, the nation paid no heed to his advice and both the evils raised their heads. It was not the fault of the Quaid but the people of Pakistan who indulged in them.

He said the nation had also forgotten the Quaid's advice for political stability and democracy. The politicians had been fighting against one another providing an opportunity to the army for intervention in the political affairs. It was not so in India.

Allama Iqbal wanted to have spiritual democracy in Pakistan but "we have failed to maintain mere democracy in the country." It was not the fault of military but politicians who created such a situation for it, he asserted.

He said the Quaid wanted a federal parliamentary form of democracy with the supremacy of parliament and prime minister the head of administration. But in Pakistan, both president and the prime minister struggled for power.

Dr Iqbal said personality cult and not political parties had been the rule in the country. Personalities had been bagging votes on the strength of their wealth and their political parties. Mian Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and Chaudhris had come into power not on the strength of their political parties but their wealth. It was the fault of the people who failed to elect true leadership to manage the affairs of their country.

Nazaria-i-Pakistan Foundation chairman Majid Nizami said the Quaid wanted Pakistan to be an Islamic, democratic welfare state but the rulers had failed to realize his dream. He asked the younger generation to get ready to take over the responsibility of making Pakistan what the Quaid wanted it be as "our generation has failed during all these years to fulfil its responsibility."

Referring to the last days of the Quaid, he said he had died in miserable and helpless conditions. The ambulance that carried the ailing Quaid along with his sister from the airport to the Governor General's House in Karachi went out of order on the way and there was no other ambulance available for the great leader. He questioned why prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan could not make necessary arrangements for the ailing leader. Ziarat had no medical facilities where the Quaid was taken. The Quetta-Ziarat road was in bad shape and two to three hours travelling on it was uncomfortable.

He claimed that Mohtarama Fatima Jinnah too had not died natural death according to various accounts of her last days recorded in her biographies.

Foundation secretary Dr Rafiq Ahmad, labour leader Khurshid Ahmad and Pakistan movement leader Rana Safdar Jung also spoke.

Earlier, Quran khwani was held for the Quaid.