Quotes from the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

A DEMOCRATIC AND ISLAMIC CONSTITUTION FOR PAKISTAN

The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of the constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today, they are as applicable in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago. Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of men, justice and fairplay to everybody. We are the inheritors of these glorious traditions…as framers of the future constitution of Pakistan. In any case, Pakistan is not going to 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. Broadcast to the people of USA, February 1948.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

My young friends, students who are present here, let me tell you as one who has always had love and affection for you, who has served you for ten years faithfully and loyally, let me give you this word of warning; you will be making the greatest mistake if you allow yourself to be exploited by one political party or another….Your main occupation should be – in fairness to yourself, in fairness to your presents, in fairness to the State – to devote your attention to your studies.

Address, Public Meeting, Dacca, 21 March 1948

BLACK – MARKETING A CRIME

A citizen who does black - marketing commits, I think, a greater crime… These black – marketers are really knowing, intelligent and ordinarily responsible people, and when they indulge in black – marketing, I think they ought to be very severely punished, because they undermine the entire system of control and regulation of ….essential commodities, and cause….starvation and want and even death.

Address, Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, Karachi, 11 August 1947

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT

These ministers are, truly speaking, your servants and you are their virtual masters. You have got the key to remove them from their ministerial gaddi, if they no longer remain alive to their responsibilities.

Lahore, 2 April 1944

CONSTITUTIONALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT FOR PAKISTAN

With the removal of foreign domination, the people are now the final arbiters of their destiny. They have perfect liberty to have by constitutional means any Government that they may choose. This cannot, however, mean that any group may now attempt by any unlawful methods to impose its will on the popularly elected Government of the day. The Government and its policy may be changed by the votes of the elected representatives….

Broadcast, Radio Pakistan, Dacca, 28 March 1948

CORRUPTION A CURSE

Corruption is a curse in India and amongst Muslims, especially the so-called educated and intelligentsia. Unfortunately, it is this class that it selfish and morally and intellectually corrupt. No doubt this disease is common, but amongst this particular class of Muslims it is rampant. M.A. Jinnah to Ispahani, 6 May 1945

DANGERS OF PROVINCIALISM - SECTIONALISM

So what is the use of saying, ‘We are Bengalis, or Sindhis, or Pathans, or Punjabis.’ “No, we are Muslims. Islam has taught us this, and I think you will agree with me, that whatever else you may be and whatever you are, you are a Muslim. You belong to a Nation now; you have now carved out a territory, vast territory, it is all yours; it does not belong to a Punjabi or a Sindhi, or a Pathan, or a Bengali; it is yours. …..Provincialism has been one of the curse; and so is sectionalism-Shia, Sunni, etc.

It was no concern of our predecessor Government; it was no concern of theirs to worry about it; they were here to carry on the administration, maintain law and order, and to carry on their trade and exploit India as much as they could. But now we are in a different position altogether…..Well, there they were. They had many difficulties. But mind you, their nations were actually in existence and they were great nation; whereas you had nothing. You have got Pakistan only now. But there a Frenchman could say ‘I am a Frenchman and belong to a great nation’, and so on. But what happened?.....

Now I ask you to get rid of this provincialism, because as long as you allow this poison to remain in the body politic of Pakistan, believe me you will never be a strong nation, and you will never be able to achieve what I wish we could achieve.

Speech, Public Meeting, Dacca, 21 March 1948.

DEMOCRACY, EQUALITY AND LIBERTY – A MUSLIM BELIEF

Democracy is in the blood of Musalmans, who look upon complete equality of manhood [mankind]…[and] believe in fraternity, equality and liberty. London, 14 December 1944

DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN

Muslims in Pakistan want to be able to establish their own real democratic popular government. This government will have the sanction…of the people of Pakistan and will function with the will and sanction of the entire body of people in Pakistan, irrespective of caste or colour….

Interview to the Daily Worker, London, 1944.

DENIAL OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THOUGHT IN KASHMIR

I do hope that immediate steps will be taken by the Paramount Power to intervene and hold an inquiry into the recent occurrences in Kashmir wich have resulted in bloodshed and the ruthless measure of oppression and suppression that have been adopted by the Kashmir Government against the people and the press. From all accounts that I have received, there does not exist in Kashmir any freedom of thought or speech.

11 September 1945

DUTY OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO THE STATE AND CITIZENS - 1

You have to do your duty as servants; you are not concerned with this or that political party; that is not your business…..You do not belong to the ruling class; you belong to the servants. Address to Gazetted Officers, Chittagong,
25 March 1948

DUTY OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO THE STATE AND CITIZENS - 2

Government servants, both Central and Provincial….Yours is a great responsibility. You must ensure that this Province is given, not merely the ordinary routine services that you are bound to perform, but rather the very last ounce of selfless endeavour that you are capable of producing for your State. In the great task of building up this State, you have a magnificent opportunity. Broadcast, Radio Pakistan, Dacca,
25 March 1946

DUTY OF CIVIL SERVANTS OF THE STATE AND CITIZENS - 3

You (Civil Officers) should have no hand in supporting this political party or that political party, this political leader or that political leader this is not your business. Whichever government is formed according to the constitution, and whoever happens to be the Primr Minister or Minister coming into power in the ordinary constitutional course, your duty is not only to serve that Government loyally and faithfully, but at the same time, fearlessly maintaining your high reputation. Informal talk to Civil Officers,
Peshawar, 14 April 1947

DUTY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF PAKISTAN

Nature’s inexorable law is ‘the survival of the fittest’ and we have to prove ourselves fit for our newly won freedom. You have fought many a battle on the far-flung battlefields of the globe to rid the world of the Fascist menace and make its safe for democracy. Now you have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil. You will have to be alert, very alert, for the time for relaxation is not yet there. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve. Address to the 5th Heavy Ack Ack and 6th Light
Ack Ack Regiments, Malir, 21 February 1948

DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT - 1

You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property, and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.

…if we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor. Address, Constituent Assembly of Pakistan,
Karachi, 11 August 1946

DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT - 2

The Government can only have for its aim one objective – how to serve the people, how to devise ways and means for their welfare, for their betterment. What other object can the Government have…..? Address, Public Meeting, Dacca, 21 March 1947

DUTY TO THE STATE OF PAKISTAN

I naturally welcome your statement that you do not believe in provincialism. You must learn to distinguish between your love for your province and your love and duty to the State as a whole. Our duty to the State takes us a stage beyond provincialism. It demands a broader sense of vision, and (a) greater sense of patriotism. Our duty to the State often demands that we must be ready to submerge our individual or provincial interests into the common cause for common good. Our duty to the State comes first: our duty to our Province, to our district, to our town and to our village and ourselves comes next. Speech, Islamia College, Peshawar, 12 April 1946

ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND PROSPERITY

When we first raised our demand for a sovereign and independent State of Pakistan there were not a few false prophets who tried to deflect us from our set purpose by saying that Pakistan was not economically feasible. They painted an extremely dark picture of the future of our State and its financial and economic soundness. The very first bedget presented by you must have caused a shock to those false prophets. It has already demonstrated the soundness of Pakistan’s finance and the determination of its Government to make them more and more sound and strong…..I have no doubt in my mind about the bright future that awaits Pakistan when its vast resources of men and material are fully mobilized. The road that we may have to travel may be somewhat uphill at present but with courage and determination we mean to achieve our objective which is to build up and construct a strong and prosperous Pakistan. Speech on the occasion of the presentation of new
Pakistani coins and currency notes by the
Finance Minister, 1 April 1946

EDUCATIONAL POLICY TOBUILD UP CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, HONOUR AND SERVICE TO THE NATION

If we are to make any real, speedy and substantial progress, we must…bring our educational policy and programme on the lines suited to the genius of our people, consonant with our history and culture, and having regard to the modern conditions and vast development that have taken place all over the world….What we have to do is to mobilize our people and build up the character of our future generation……In short, we have to build up the character of our future generations which means highest sense of honour, integrity, selfless service to the nation, and sense of responsibility, and we have to see that they are fully qualified or equipped to play their part in the various branches of economic life.manner which will do honour to Pakistan.
Message to All Pakistan Education Conference,
Karachi, 27 November 1947.

EQUAL TREATMENT AND RIGHTS OF MINORITIES

Minorities to whichever community they may belong, will be safeguarded. Their religion of faith or belief will be secure. There will be no interference of any kind will their freedom of worship. They will have their protection with regard to their religion, faith, their life, and their culture. They will be, in all respects, the citizens of Pakistan without any distinction of caste or creed. Press Conference, New Delhi, 14 July 1947

EQUALITY, FRATERNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Brotherhood, equality, and fraternity of man – these are all the basic points of our religion, culture and civilization and we fought for Pakistan because there was a danger of the denial of these human rights in this Subcontinent.
Address, Public Reception, Chittagong,
26 March 1948

FAITH, UNITY AND DISCIPLINE

I have no doubt that with unity, faith and discipline we will not only remain the fifth largest State in the world but will compare with any nation of the world….You must make up your mind now. We must sink individualism and petty jealousies and make up our minds to serve the people with honesty and faithfulness. We are passing through a period of fear, danger and menace. We must have faith, unity and discipline. Reply to North Western Railway Officers
welcome address, Karachi, 28 December 1947

FEUDALISM – EXPLOITATION OF THE MASSES

I should like to give a warning to the landlords and capitalists who have flourished at our expense by a system which is so vicious, which is so wicked and which makes them so selfish that it is difficult to reason with them. The exploitation of the masses has gone into their blood. They have forgotten the lessons of Islam. Address, All India Muslim League Session, Delhi,
24 April 1948

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION – PROTECT JOURNALISTS

I say, protect the innocent, protect those journalists who are doing their duty and who are serving both the public and the Government by criticizing the Government freely, independently, honestly which is an education for any Government. Speech on the condition of the Press in India in the
Imperial Legislative Council, 19 September 1948

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION

I want you to keep your heads up as citizens of a free and independent sovereign State. Praise your Government when it deserves. Citicize your Government fearlessly when it deserves, but do not go on all the time attacking, indulging in destructive criticism, taking delight in running down the Ministry or the officials.

Reply to welcome address, Edwardes College,
Peshawar, 18 April 1948

GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS TO FUNCTION FOR THE GOOD OF THE STATE

Representative governments and representative institutions are no doubt good and desirable, but when people want to reduce them merely to channels of personal aggrandizement, they not only lose their value but earn and bad name. We must subject our actions to perpetual security and test them with the touchstone, not of personal or sectional interest, but of the good of the State. Address at Quetta Municipality, 15 June 1948

HONEST AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

This is your Government. It is quite different from its predecessor. Therefore, appreciate when a good thing is done. Certainly criticize fearlessly, when a wrong thing is done. I welcome criticism, but it must be honest and constructive. Address, Edwardes College, Peshawar,
18 April 1947

ISLAM – DEMOCRACY, EQUALITY, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, INTEGRITY, FAIRPLAY

Islam and its idealism have taught democracy. Islam has taught equality, justice and fairplay to everybody. What reason is their for anyone to fear democracy, equality, freedom on the highest standard of integrity and on the basis of fairplay and justice for everybody…..Let us make it (the future constitution of Pakistan), We shall make it and we shall show it to the world. Address, Bar Association, Karachi,
25 January 1948

ISLAMIC ECONOMIC THEORY AND PRACTICE TO SUIT PAKISTAN

The adoption of Western economic theory and practice will not help us in achieving our goal of creating a happy and contented people. We must work our destiny in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on the true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice. Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the State Bank
of Pakistan, Karachi, 1 July 1946

LAW AND ORDER

Remember that the scrupulous maintenance and enforcement of law and order are the prerequisites of all progress. The tenets of Islam enjoin on every Musalman to give protection to his neighbours and to the minorities regardless of caste and creed. Speech at University Stadium, Lahore,
30 October 1947

LIBERTY, FREEDOM AND EQUALITY

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 this fundamental principle: that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State…..Now, I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State. Address, Constituent Assembly of Pakistan,
Karachi, 11 August 1948

LOOK AFTER THE POOR

It is your sacred duty to look after the poor and help them. I would never have gone through the toil and suffering for the last ten years had I not felt our sacred duty towards them. We must secure for them better living conditions. It should not be our policy to make the rich richer, but that does not mean that we want to uproot things. We can quite consistently give all their due share. 27 Ramadhan 1366

MERCHANTS AND TRADERS WELCOME TO BUILD FORTUNES AND PAKISTAN

Traders and merchants will always be welcome and they, in building up their own fortunes, will not forget their social responsibility for a fair and square deal to one and all, big and small. I would like Pakistan to become (a) synonym and hallmark for standar and quality in the market places of the world….May you, as true Pakistanis, help to reconstruct and build Pakistan to reach a mighty and glorious status amongst the comity of nations of the world…. Address, Karachi Chamber of Commerce,
27 April 1948

MESSAGE TO PAKISTANIS

Work honestly and sincerely and be faithful and loyal to the Pakistan Government. I can assure you there is nothing greater in this world than your own conscience and, when you appear before God, you can say that you performed your duty with the highest sense of integrity, honesty and with loyalty and faithfulness. Address to Civil Officers of Balochistan, Sibi,
14 February 1948

MUSLIMS ARE A NATION - 1

Musalmans are a nation according to any definition of a nation, and they must have their homelands, their territory and their State. We wish to live in peace and harmony with our neighbours as a free and independent people. We wish our people to develop to the fullest our spiritual, cultural, economic social, and political life in a way that we think best, and in consonance with our own ideals and according to the genius of our people. Presidential Address, 27th Session, All India
Muslim League , Lahore, 22 – 24 March 1940

MUSLIMS ARE A NATION - 2

We maintain and hold that Muslims and Hindus are two major nations  by any definition or test of a nation. We are a nation of a hundred million people, and, what is more, we are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of value and proportion, legal laws and moral codes, customs and calendar, history and traditions, aptitudes and ambitions – in short, we have our own distinctive outlook on life and of life. By all canons of international law we are a nation. Jinnah’s reply (17 September 1944) to Gandhi’s
contention (15 September 1944); “I find no parallel
in history for a body of converts and their descendants
claiming to be a nation apart from the parent stock.