Scholars term following Quaid, Iqbal vision only ray of hope for better Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Renowned scholar Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik has said that awareness among the political leaders about history and political ideologies of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal and a motivation for their implementation was indispensable to run the country's affairs effectively.

He said this while talking to APP, in connection with birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on December 25.

“The current Prime Minister with his true intentions has the desired potential to bring progress and prosperity in the country through pursuing untiring efforts to reform every sector, according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal”, Professor Fateh Malik said.

Quaid-e-Azam was the one who turned the Iqbal’s Allahabad address of 1940 into a full fledge movement.

He said Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) has established an exemplary state of Madina in difficult circumstances which was a role model for all of us but, unfortunately our religious scholars even could not adopt those examples, what to talk about political leaders, he stated.

State of Madina could not be established unless all its components were not fully comprehended by leaders, he observed.

Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam gave a political shape to the real spirit of State of Madina during the All India Muslim League meeting of 1940 after which Pakistan came into being.

He said Islam is against the spirit of feudal system and it believes on equality and justice for all. Quaid-e-Azam during his last address at State Bank of Pakistan said, “Economic system of west is dragging the humanity toward destruction and now we need to reinterpret our economic system in light of Islamic teachings and as per requirements of modern era”.

Meanwhile, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Professor, University of Punjab, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chawla said following the golden principles of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and carrying forward their mission was the only ray of hope for the country to achieve political stability which could ultimately lead to economic stability.

"December 25 is the day which gives us an opportunity to renew our commitments towards realizing the dream of Quaid and make the country a welfare state following his principles of equality and justice for all”, Dr Iqbal Chawla said.

He said it was Quaid-e-Azam who saw a dream of Islamic, democratic and a welfare state without any provincial prejudices, religious hatreds which is very essential and relevant today. Quaid-e-Azam always raised his voice for the rights of minorities and women and his first cabinet had also a representation of Hindu.

He said Quaid was of the view that if women would not get education and stay at home, the society would not achieve progress. Today, women were contributing in diversified fields of life but still more efforts were needed to ensure their representation at all levels, he added.

Elaborating the Quaid's vision of a welfare state, Iqbal Chawla said, Quaid's dream of welfare state was a dream where there would be no economic inequality and unjustified distribution of wealth which created a sense of deprivation in poor.

Chawla stressed that the steps which can lead to Quaid's dream of a welfare state were ensuring justice and equality in all spheres of life, implementation of constitution in letter and spirit, strong parliamentary legislations, protection of minorities and giving equal rights to women.

He said sudden death of Quaid-e-Azam after creation of Pakistan created a huge gap of leadership and after him they could not have been able to achieve the objectives of complete democracy, political stability and economic progress.

Iqbal Chawla said the first basic thing was to provide food and shelter to poor without any discrimination while freedom of expression and other things came after that.

He said they as a nation are very fortunate to have a project like China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which could bring economic uplift as well as created employment opportunities for the people and they should maximum utilize their efforts to make this project a huge success.