THIS refers to the letter ‘Missing the Quaid more than ever’ (Sept 11). Our great misfortune was that the country was left bereft of the much-needed guidance of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah due to his sudden demise just a year after the creation of Pakistan.

After two years of his death, another setback to the newly-born country was the unfortunate assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister and the right hand of the Quaid. With the early departure of these two iconic characters of the Pakistan movement, and the unfortunate shenanigans that followed, the country was left with a leadership crisis.

Being directionless, the country began to drift like a ship without rudder, passing through one political crisis to another. We forgot the Quaid’s principles and lofty ideals that had galvanised the Muslims of the subcontinent to have their own independent country. He had taught us the lesson of unity, faith and discipline, but we indulged in parochialism, sectarianism and extremism, weakening the very fabric of the country.

Above all, the Quaid had envisaged a democratic and progressive Pakistan based on socio-economic and political justice, but successive governments pursued dictatorial and unjust policies that harmed national integration and resulted in the break-up of Jinnah’s Pakistan after 24 years of its coming into being.

Are we incapable of running the affairs of the country? That is surely not the case. Undoubtedly, we are capable of managing the affairs of the country and resolving all the issues, provided we follow in the footsteps of the founder of the country, who was a great statesman and visionary beyond doubt or debate. We can shape our destiny and make Pakistan strong with hard work, honesty and national spirit.

Prof Sarwar Pathan
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2021