ISLAMABAD, March 28: Pakistanis as a nation have failed both the Quaid-i-Azam and the country he created for them, scholar Zawwar Husain Zaidi charged here on Tuesday. “In modern history, no country and no people owe so much to a single leader as Pakistanis do to the Quaid-i-Azam,” the eminent historian who heads the cell which researches and produces Jinnah Papers told the students of the Margalla College for Women at their Pakistan Day celebrations.

Dr Zaidi noted that no other Muslim leader, before him or after him, commanded the respect, the admiration and the trust of his people that Jinnah did. He felt sad that “we have failed Mr Jinnah, as well as Pakistan”.

“For nearly six decades squabbling politicians and ambitious soldiers have made a mockery of his constitutional commitments,” he said. “His legacy of integrity, honesty, enlightenment, primacy of public interest, dedication to duty and distributive justice have all receded from our lives.”

The Quaid-i-Azam was never flippant in public or personal expenses. His daily expenses amounted to less than Rs7 and as Governor General he decided that the new state could not afford to spend Rs1.5 million on a new aircraft for its head.

After he took the office he was mindful of the financial crunch on the fledgling state and restricted government spending. He fixed the salaries of officers at a relatively low level.

“I particularly wish to avoid creating embarrassing precedents by giving any special terms to any appointment,” wrote the Quaid in dismissing NWFP Governor George Cunningham’s request for a tax-free salary.

No discretionary powers were exercised in his times. The Director of Civil Supplies fixed the quantity of sugar for the Governor General’s House for celebrating the country’s first independence day, Dr Zaidi said.

Mr Jinnah was a constitutionalist, and averse to imposing his will on the future constitution of the country. According to him it was the function of the sovereign legislature, “the source of all legitimate power and authority”, he said.

His remark that Mr Jinnah was a democrat who stood by moral principles and never compromised on them drew thunderous applause from the young audience.