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Setting the Record Straight barely understandable. Nor were his cu-
linary tastes quite those of strict Muslims.
But the authorities of Pakistan Television
took this, as so much else, in their stride.
What was Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s position on the contentious So, in the 1980s, a steady stream of pro-
issue of secularism in Pakistan? What was his stand on Pakistan as found pieties emanated from a stern,
sherwani-clad man who filled television
an Islamic state? What legacy did he leave for the citizens of his screens across the country. Gone were his
country on a question with which they continue to grapple? elegant suits from Savile Row, as was any
reference to his marriage with a Parsi
PERVEZ HOODBHOY Jinnah’s thoughts inevitably enter the woman. Jinnah had miraculously morphed
argument. This, of course, does not neces- into a deep-thinking Islamic scholar.
W
hat did Quaid-e-Azam sarily mean that Pakistan was, or is, An interesting consequence of this
Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the obligated to become the fulfilment of his deliberate state-organised obfuscation was
founder of Pakistan, want for vision. Pakistan is much more than Jinnah that many Pakistani liberals concluded
the country he was destined to create in and it will eventually go in the direction that the truth must have been the very
1947? Surely I cannot say anything new that its people want it to go. But it certainly opposite. They insisted that, in fact, Jinnah
on this venerable and much-discussed is of the greatest intellectual and historical had envisioned Pakistan as a secular, but
historical subject; the experts know much interest to ask two key questions: Muslim majority, country. As proof, they
more. But, as we approach Pakistan’s 60th (a) Did Jinnah want Pakistan to be a Muslim pointed to two of his oft-quoted speeches
anniversary, the matter of Jinnah and the majority state where individuals, whether that suggest a secular outlook. Delivered
Islamic state is still a hot one. It is con- Muslim or otherwise, would be free to live just before, and after, Partition, these had
founded both by the wishful thinking of their lives more or less as they do in been slyly concealed from the public media
my well-meaning liberal friends, as well countries in the rest of the world? during the Zia years:
as the conveniences invented at different Or,
You are free; you are free to go to your
times by Pakistan’s military, political, and (b) Did Jinnah want an Islamic state? And, temples, you are free to go to your mosques
religious establishments. Therefore, it if so, what was his understanding of such or to any other place of worship in this
seems to me that objectivity, honesty, and a state? State of Pakistan. You may belong to any
clarity are still desperately needed if we These have always been loaded ques- religion or caste or creed – that has nothing
are to clean out old cobwebs and chart a tions with various sides making excellent to do with the business of the State… You
new course for the future of our country. arguments for their own purposes. But it will find that in course of time Hindus
What is Pakistan all about? For decades, is time to stop cherry-picking and, instead, would cease to be Hindus and Muslims
Pakistani school children have grown up scrutinise the totality of Jinnah’s words would cease to be Muslims, not in the
learning a linguistically flawed (but catchy) and actions. Else, at the end of the day religious sense, because that is the per-
rhetorical question sung together with its we shall end up merely reaffirming our sonal faith of each individual, but in the
answer: Pakistan ka matlab kya? La illaha existing preferences and prejudices.2 political sense as citizens of the State
(Address to the First Constituent Assem-
illala! (What is the meaning of Pakistan?
bly, August 11, 1947).3
There is no god but Allah!). They have Secularist or Theocrat?
been told that Pakistan’s raison d’etre was Similarly, Jinnah had indeed come out
the creation of an Islamic state where the To be sure, a dispassionate examination forcefully against theocracy:
sharia must reign supreme. of Jinnah’s positions has been unusual in “Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic
Surely this has had its effect. A recent Pakistan because of the ideological needs state to be ruled by priests with a divine
survey by the website World Public of the state. Truth was an immediate mission. We have many non-Muslims –
Opinion.Org (April 24, 2007) found that 54 casualty when Zia-ul-Haq brought his new Hindus, Christians and Parsis – but they
per cent of Pakistanis wanted strict appli- Islamic vision of Pakistan in 1979. Imme- are all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the
cation of the sharia while 25 per cent diately thereafter, Jinnah had to be entirely same rights and privileges as any other
wanted it in some more diluted form. resurrected and reconstructed as an Is- citizens and will play their rightful part
Totalling 79 per cent, this was the largest lamic – rather than Muslim – leader. in the affairs of Pakistan” (Broadcast Ad-
percentage in the four countries surveyed This task challenged even the best of dress to the people of the United States
(Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia).1 spin-masters. As perhaps the most of America, February 1948).4
But was sentiment for sharia and the westernised political leader in Indian These speeches unequivocally demon-
Islamic state strong in 1947 among those Muslim history, Jinnah was culturally and strate Jinnah’s strong sense of justice and
who fought for Pakistan? socially far more at ease with the high secular leanings at a personal level. They
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