NEW DELHI: In his first statement as President of the newly-formed All-India Muslim Majlis, Mr. A.M. Khwaja gives an account of why Muslim “Nationalists” decided to form a distinct party of their own. “Some of Mr. Jinnah’s friends,” he says, “tried to persuade them not to do so but to join the League and capture it from within.” But they could not answer the objection that the League having changed its creed from full independence to Pakistan, which they refused to define, no honest man could sign the creed and gain admission to throw Mr. Jinnah out of power. Muslim “Nationalists” had no quarrel with personalities.

Mr. Khwaja continues: “I, therefore, ask all Muslims to whom our aims and objects may appeal to join the Majlis, which is an organisation having definite and well-defined aims and which has no empty catch phrases to attract or deceive the Muslims. We are not out to lead them to darkness under the dazzling glory of an attractive but undefined word. Our watch words are truth, justice and sacrifice ... The League has had a free field for the last eight years and our task has become more difficult. But truth is our hope and sacrifice shall be our succour…”

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2019