I READ with interest the letter ‘The Quaid and his preference’ (Feb 17). What appears on page 81 of The Jinnah Anthology, which was compiled and edited by me and the late Prof Sharif Al Mujahid and published by Oxford University Press, does carry the image that accompanied the said letter, showing a note in the handwriting of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. But it has to be seen in the right context.

The note in question appears to be a reflection of the Quaid’s thoughts with regard to the future Constitution of Pakistan and proceeds on the basis that parliamentary democracy has been successful mainly in England and perhaps a presidential form of government may be more suitable for Pakistan.

In the same note, Mr Jinnah also wrote that “the state exists” (as has been said by Aristotle) “not for life only but for good life”.

The above reflections of the Quaid must not be read in isolation. I would like to refer and reproduce for the benefit of the readers what Mr Jinnah had to say on the issue of the future Constitution of Pakistan in his broadcast to the people of the United States in February 1948, whereas the handwritten note dates back to July 1947, before Pakistan came into existence.

The relevant portion of Mr Jinnah’s address to the American people in February 1948 reads as follows: “The Constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of this Constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today, they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago.

“Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of men, justice and fair play to everybody. We are the inheritors of these glorious traditions … as framers of the future Constitution of Pakistan. In any event, Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state. We have many non-Muslims — Hindus, Christians, and Parsis — but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.”

If Mr Jinnah expressed his desire for a constitution which the people wanted, the 1973 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was passed with consensus of all the four provinces of Pakistan at that time and it would be right to conclude that a constitution framed by the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan is the Constitution which the people of Pakistan wanted and to which Mr Jinnah referred in his address to the people of the US in February 1948.

We in Pakistan must make our best efforts to make our system of democracy successful in all respects by following Mr Jinnah’s principles, ideals and vision and the essential principles of Islam which have taught us democracy, equality, justice and fair play.

If these principles are followed, our form of democracy will get stronger and we should expect leaders to emerge from parliament in the role model of Mr Jinnah with a brave conception of duty and a code of personal honour and public integrity.

Liaquat H. Merchant
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2022