ISLAMABAD: As the nation celebrated the 144th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on Friday, President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan paid rich tribute to the Quaid and urged the nation to follow in his footsteps and golden principles.
On the occasion, President Alvi urged the international community to stop India from committing gross human rights violations against Muslims, especially in India-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJK).
The day dawned with special prayers and hoisting of national flag at all government buildings. As the day was declared a national holiday, ceremonies took place different parts of the country to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.
A function was held at the Presidency titled, `Quaid Aur Bachay (Quaid and children)’, presided over by President Alvi.
Rich tribute paid to Father of the Nation
Speaking on the occasion, the president said that Quaid-i-Azam propounded the two-nation theory, championed the rights of minorities and declared that members of every community would be treated as equal citizens of Pakistan with equal rights, privileges and obligations and that minorities would be safeguarded and protected.
“Today we reaffirm our commitment to building a state that respects the diversity of its people and provides equal opportunities to its citizens, irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or colour,” the president said.
Dr Alvi said that on this day, “we must also remember the people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who have been subjected to the worst form of state terrorism for over seven decades”.
He reaffirmed the nation’s pledge to follow the Quaid’s ideals to make the country a strong and prosperous state.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also paid rich tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
In a message to mark the occasion, the prime minister urged the nation to pay a befitting homage to the great leader by following in the footsteps of the Father of the Nation in all walks of lives.
“Together, let us beseech Allah that He grants us strength to realise our destiny of becoming the strongest nation on earth as rightly visualised by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah,” the prime minister said.
“Let us follow the Quaid’s ideals of Unity, Faith and Discipline with a renewed national spirit so that we make the country rise above all seen and unseen challenges,” Prime Minister Khan said.
He said that when Quaid-i-Azam was born a proud nation was destined to come into being.
“I feel blessed to have opened my eyes in a free environment bestowed upon us by Allah through His chosen personality who was none other but our beloved Quaid,” the prime minister said.
Army chief
Meanwhile, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said that the Quaid-i-Azam’s motto of “faith, unity and discipline would always remain guiding principles of our great nation”.
The COAS paid tribute to the Quaid by quoting his famous quote: “No power on earth can undo Pakistan,” according to a tweet of the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations.
Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2020