[Originally published in The Nation]
“I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fairplay without any… …prejudice or ill-will, in other words, partiality or favouritism. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest nations of the world.” -Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his speech to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11 1947.
On the 133rd birth anniversary of the father of our nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah, it is for each and every Pakistani to reflect back upon what the person who found this nation had planned for us, and try his/her level best to further Jinnah’s cause.
Being a leading visionary with a balance of both principles and pragmatism, Quaid-e-Azam had outlined three cardinal principles: Unity, Faith, and Discipline; for all Pakistanis to follow, and there is a grave need now more than ever for these to be believed in, followed, and propagated.
Having made Pakistan a separate homeland for a plethora of ethnicities based on their beliefs, Jinnah knew that unity would have to be an underlining factor for the sustainability and prosperity of the nation. Every Pakistani must realise that ethnic differences have to be set aside, and we all have to further unity within the members of the federation for the mutual benefit of all. No single part of this country can sustain long without the other, and being a part of this federation must be considered a great blessing for us all to be able to help each other out.
Therefore, we all should celebrate this interdependence, and help out every Pakistani under the banner of our green and white. An excellent display of unity is witnessed in Pakistani hospitals after each attempt at the federation in the form of terror when scores of Pakistanis from different backgrounds wait in line to donate blood for victims of terrorism.
Being a homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent, faith definitely had a major role to play not only in the establishment but the prosperity of this country as well. It is strong faith that gave resolve to the millions of Muslims that braved the threat of violence and sacrificed everything they had to reach their ideological homeland at time of partition. It is strong faith that enabled Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to kick start the country’s ambitious nuclear program.
It is strong faith that enabled Imran Khan to establish one of the best cancer hospitals. And it is this kind of very strong faith that we have to hold strongly in order to make through all challenges, and make our homeland the best place to live in for coming generations.
Being one of the very few politicians that were never arrested by the British government before independence, Quaid-e-Azam knew discipline was extremely important. Discipline includes following the law, using fair means in dealings, and maintaining a balance between different priorities in life. If our founding father could create an entire country on the map of the world without breaking the law, then each and every Pakistani can definitely work hard in his or her field by disciplining him/herself while respecting the law and constitution of the country.
On February 21, 1948, the Quaid said to a group of soldiers “With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.”
Therefore, it is must for each and every one of us in Pakistan to strongly take up Unity, Faith, and Discipline as the basic guiding principles for living our life, just as the Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned, and there is no reason why Pakistan will not be a great nation soon, just as the father of the nation had wanted.
“My message to you all is of hope, courage and confidence. Let us mobilise all our resources in a systematic and organised way and tackle the grave issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline worthy of a great nation.” Quaid’s Eid-ul-Azha Message to the Nation, on 24th October, 1947.
Usama Khilji 