The Quaid’s vision through years of translation

Here comes the day when the Pakistani, the patriot, commemorates with passion in reminiscence of the day upon which Muslims of the sub-continent succeeded in acquiring a separate homeland for themselves, and ultimately, for us all. The 14th of August is celebrated with the annual hoisting of the national flag, parades by the army and the same soporific statements by the politicians which are repetitively broadcasted on national television.

The spirit of the day and the crux of its existence can be found in the speech given by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947. Jinnah laid out the vision for Pakistan, in which he stressed on the new country to be an inclusive land for all; people from all religions, sects, casts and creeds. Looking back now, seven decades later, one is naturally encouraged to inquire if we, the Pakistanis, have lived up to our founder’s vision for our country.

The facts show Pakistan to be a ‘Democratic Federal Parliamentarian Islamic Republic’ where every citizen has the right to live in conjunction with fundamental freedoms (codified in the second chapter of the constitution). Life, liberty and property have been given stronger protections (art.9 constitution of Pakistan) and life has been qualitatively protected by the courts by describing it to not only be restricted to vegetative and animal life but to include a healthy and prosperous life (by the supreme court of Pakistan in Sheila Zia vs. WAPDA). The Constitution of Pakistan has installed safeguards to protect fundamental freedoms such as fair trial (art.10A), freedom of movement (art.15), freedom of speech (art.19), freedom of religion (art.20) and specifically prohibited from arbitrary arrests, detention (art.10), slavery, forced labor (art.11), discrimination (based on sex-art.25), double punishment and self incrimination (art.13).

The promises made by our Quaid in his speech on the 11th of August can be seen to be carried by the constitution of the country which has been amended twenty-two times to enable it to morph into the form it stands in today. The Constitution itself is a living organism and has grown with its subjects and evolved with their needs. This has allowed us today to see a better Pakistan. A country where every new day carries with itself, the promise of a brighter future and a better life. The 14th of August reminds us all of the achievements of those who worked for the creation of Pakistan seventy years ago. It also celebrates the achievements of the country ever since and in doing so, it further acts as a reminder for the need to strive for the benefit of the country, in the years to come.

Long live Pakistan and Long Live Pakistanis.