LAHORE, Dec 26: Governor Khalid Maqbool has said the government has given a practical shape to ideas of the founder of Pakistan by strengthening the economy and promoting a balanced approach towards life in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

Addressing a meeting organised by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Foundation and the Karkunan-i-Tehrik-i-Pakistan Trust in connection with the 131st birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah here on Tuesday, he said the Quaid was a man of principles. He undertook his constitutional struggle against the British rule and Hindu supremacy successfully but neither deviated from principles nor practiced double standards throughout his life.

He said Quaid-i-Azam never resorted to politics of violence throughout the freedom movement because he did not want Pakistan to be known with reference to confrontation in the world. Both the Quaid and Allama Muhammad Iqbal did not want Pakistan to be isolated from the comity of nations but wanted it to become a strong nation from the point of view of defence and economy. The present leadership was proud to have presented the real image of Islam before the world because it loved Pakistan and its founders.

He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf had given practical shape to the vision of the founder of Pakistan by strengthening the economy. The defence had been made impregnable and the country could repulse any kind of aggression successfully. The government had also created a sense of participation in national affairs among the people.

He said the Quaid kept his sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah with him to make the nation realise that women were an active part of society and should participate in national affairs. When Lord Mountbatten told him that he wanted to bring back the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar by supporting the minorities, Mr Jinnah told him that Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had given the lesson of good treatment to minorities 1,300 years ago.

He said promotion of a free market economy in accordance with the requirements of the time was necessary for establishment of a corruption and nepotism-free welfare society in accordance with the teachings of Quaid-i-Azam. God had bestowed unlimited natural resources and talented manpower on Pakistan. It could become a strong and powerful country by providing world standard education and training to its youth. The government was promoting competition at every level purely on the basis of merit, besides establishing a strong monitoring at every level. It had assured the people that there would be no injustice to any talented person in the Quaid’s Pakistan.

Nazaria-i-Pakistan Foundation chairman Majeed Nizami said Quaid-i-Azam was a role model for every politician. General Pervez Musharraf should adopt a compromising attitude towards politicians for promoting democratic values in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam.

Foundation secretary Prof Dr Rafiq Ahmed said it had been established to promote a sense of reverence for Pakistan Movement leaders in the new generation.