DACCA: “The security of Pakistan means security of the entire Muslim world. Any blow to our state will endanger peace and freedom of all the Muslim countries,” said Pakistan’s Prime Minister … Liaquat Ali Khan, addressing … over 100,000 people here yesterday [Nov 20]… . The Prime Minister said: “Everyone of you must be prepared to shed the last ounce of his or her blood in the defence of freedom that has been achieved after so much sacrifice. I warn you not to think in terms of Bengali, Sindhi, Punjabi, etc. Islam admits of no such distinctions. We are one nation and one state. Think yourself Pakistanis first and Pakistanis last.”

Referring to … apprehensions of non-Muslim Pakistanis, the Prime Minister said: “We do not want any of you to leave your hearth and home. We stand by the pledge of our Quaid-i-Azam given to the minorities and are determined to treat them generously. We will continue not only to protect you and your right but always treat you justly… . We do not stand for any mean inhuman revenge for the wrongs done by your co-religionists on the other side of the border.”

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2023