KARACHI, Dec 30: The Pakistan Post has released eight commemorative postage stamps on the Centenary Celebration of Muslim League (1906-2006) on 30-12-2006.

These stamps are designed by Mr. Adil Sallahuddin and printed by Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Karachi. The set of eight commemorative postage stamps of Rs4 each portrays a few milestones in the annals of All India Muslim League (AIML) epitomised as below:

'Quaid Joining Muslim League 1913'. One of the most historic and significant events was the decision of Mohammad Ali Jinnah to join the AIML in 1913. This momentous decision was the outcome of his deeply insightful thought process and acumen.

By 1912, Jinnah had realised that the All Indian Congress, though professing to be a secular party upholding the interests of all the communities of India irrespective of religion, caste or creed was, in fact, not serious in addressing the economic and political deprivation of the Muslims, and this attitude of the Congress, instead of bridging the gulf, was widening the distrust between both communities.

The raison d’etre of the establishment of AIML in Dhaka in 1906 was also based on this widespread discontentment and distrust and the growing realisation on the part of Indian Muslims that although Congress professed to be a noncommunal political party yet, in fact it was protecting the interests of Hindu majority.

By 1926, Mr. Jinnah had become the sole spokesman of a hundred million Muslims of India. And finally in 1927 he was elected President of All India Muslim League the Party that he led as QuaidAzam (i.e. the Great Leader) till he breathed his last in 1948.

The other commemorative postage stamps are captioned:

"Quaid in Sherwani and Jinnah Cap 1937", “Quaid addressing Lucknow session 1937”, “Quaid and Fatima Jinnah with Youth and Women Wing, 1938”, “Quaid hoisting Muslim League Flat at Manto Park Lahore, March 21, 1940”, “Quaid addressing Lahore session, 1940”, “Landslide victory election 1945-1946”, “Quaid addressing first constituent assembly August 14, 1947”.