THIS refers to the column ‘The first in line’ by Nadeem F. Paracha (May 22). Some of what is stated by the author may not be in line with facts.

Chaudhri Muhammad Ali has mentioned on page 375 of his book The Emergence of Pakistan that a gradual change had come over Jogendra Nath Mandal after the death of the Quaid-i-Azam, as the scheduled caste Hindus in the Constituent Assembly had started wooing him and urging him to assume their leadership as well. At the same time, links were being forged between him and the Indian high commission in Karachi. Liaquat Ali Khan was aware of these developments and precautionary measures were taken to prevent any top secret document from falling into Mandal’s hands. He migrated to India in 1950.

It is also not correct that Zafarullah Khan was our foreign minister in the first cabinet of Pakistan. He had led our first delegation to the UN and on his return was appointed foreign minister. The portfolio till then was with Liaquat Ali Khan, the prime minister at the time. However, it is true that though he was present, he did not participate in the Quaid’s funeral prayers.

The Quaid-i-Azam certainly wanted Pakistan to be based on Islamic principles but not to be ruled by the clergy. His speech of Aug 11, 1947, is a clear manifestation of his views of an Islamic republic. Regrettably, present-day Pakistan is not what was envisioned by the Quaid.

Lt-Col (r)Syed Jamil Mukhtar Shah

Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2016