LAHORE, Feb 11: The Quaid-i-Azam was averse to any kind of authoritarian or theocratic rule, speakers at a Lahore High Court Bar Association seminar said on Monday.

Pakistan Bar Council member Muhammad Akram Sheikh asserted that the first dent in Pakistan’s map was caused when army chief Gen Douglas Gracey refused to comply with the Quaid’s order to move two divisions to Srinagar in October 1947.

In fact, the matter was reported to the then supreme commander, Lord Mountbatten, who preempted any Pakistan move by despatching Indian forces to the Kashmir capital.

He said the Quaid expressed his dismay in a speech in Lahore on October 30, 1947. “Our religion teaches us to be always prepared for death. There is no better salvation, for a Muslim than martyrdom for a righteous cause”, the lawyer quoted the Quaid as saying.

Advocate B.A. Fakhri said the Quaid was a constitutionalist to the core. He regretted that the venue of the seminar had to be shifted from the spacious Karachi Hall to LHCBA lounge for want of audience.

Advocate Ahmad Saeed Kirmani said the Quaid accomplished his mission because he had all the qualities of leadership. He was brave, intelligent and honest.

Advocate Manzoor Ali Gilani of Istiqlal Party urged the lawyers to follow the Quaid’s example instead of expecting military rulers to set things right.

PBC member Latif Khan Khosa felt confident that the new generation would realize the Quaid’s motto of unity, faith and discipline.

Chief guest Majid Nizami said the country was off to a good start when the military first took over in 1958. Progress had evaded Pakistan since. It has remained under military rule for the better part of its history, though the Quaid firmly stood for democracy and rule of law. He wanted it to a modern Islamic welfare state.

Mr Nizami suggested dialogue to bring Pakistan and Bangladesh together. Pakistan, he warned, should not look to the United States for any substantial help and should rely on the innate strength of its people.