Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan

This is a rebuke to the Mullahs who always maintain that Pakistan was supposed to be an "Islamic state following Quran and Sunnah".

Jinnah made a speech in the Constituent Assembly on August 11 1947 where he said:

" You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the state....We are starting with the fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state."

The second speech was a radio address to the American people in February 1948:

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

These two speeches give us a clear picture: Jinnah was a true secularist who wanted Muslims of India to get autonomy but under democratic rule and a secular constitution.

I fear that unless educated, patriotic Pakistanis join politics, these mullahs will become even more powerful and will take over, leading to theocracy and obscurantism.