ISLAMABAD: An ex-Brigadier Gulzar Ahmed said at a function of the Pakistan Council Islamabad, the Quaid-i-Azam rejected a plan for bringing about an army coup by the Muslim officers of the Indian Army in late 1946, according to a Press release of the Council issued today [Dec 24].

Brig Gulzar Ahmed said he had made a plan for bringing about the coup to make Pakistan by force. He said he was allowed an interview by the Father of the Nation on the recommendation of Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar and the late Mr Liaquat Ali Khan.

The Quaid, he said, asked him: “Young man, will your plan be underhand or above board.” Brig Gulzar, then Lt-Col in the British Indian Army, replied: “Sir, it has got to be secret.”

The Quaid firmly said: “Do you know that anything which is underhand is not honourable and things not honourable are un-Islamic,” and then raising his voice said, “I refuse to commit my nation — the Muslim nation — to anything which is un-Islamic. In Islam both the means and the end count.”

He said the Quaid, explaining himself, said: “I appreciate your desire to die for Islam but it is equally important to live for Islam...” — Agency

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2019