I was reading Ardeshir Cowasjee's article titled as “Not the business of the state”(August 16). The piece of writing censures the passing of the Objectives Resolutions, 1949 as being repugnant to the dictums of the father of the nation, Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah who emphatically reiterated that Pakistan would not be a theocratic state.

However, when I sifted through the text of Objectives Resolution, I discerned that it merely demanded the sovereignty of Allah the ruler ship of Pakistan as a heavenly sacred trust. Additionally, it guaranteed the rights and legitimate interest of minorities as well as their religious liberty besides other principles such as democracy, equality, tolerance and social justice.

I do not support the view upheld by the writer as I am unable to trace any mixture of religion and politics in the said document. How can bigotry, discriminatory laws and intolerance flow from Objectives Resolution?

These perils unquestionably hail from a bunch of people who have nothing to do with the passing of this Resolution.

One shouldn't, therefore, blame a legal and constitutional document for the outbreak of such evils. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Objectives Resolution is in compliance with the directions of Quaid i Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in a broadcast to the people of USA in February 1948, Mr. Jinnah enunciated,

“The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today, they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1300 years ago. Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of men, justice and fair play to everybody. We are the inheritors of these glorious traditions... as framers of the future constitution of Pakistan.

“In any case, Pakistan would not be a theocratic state-to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many non-Muslims- Hindus, Christians, and Parsis---but they are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other citizens and will play their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.”

I envisaged this saying with a profound insight and perceived that it doesn't contradict the Resolution in any case. It has become a commonplace routine that people do often misinterpret and misquote the statements of Quaid i Azam. It is very annoying and should be discouraged in harsh manner. To end, a verse from the collection of Sir Dr Muhammad Iqbal, the poet philosopher who conceived the idea of Pakistan

Jalal e paadshahi ho keh jamhoori tamasha ho,

Judah ho deen siyasat se to reh jati hai changezi.

GHULAM FARID ASAD

Lahore