Like other parts of the country, Karachiites on Wednesday celebrated the 144th birthday of the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with renewed commitment to work hard for the progress and prosperity of the country.
The day dawned with special prayers and Quran Khuani at masques, while a graceful change-of-guards ceremony - the main function of the day was held at Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum where a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) assumed the charge of the duties.
The provincial government ensured security arrangements in and around the Tomb of the Quaid to maintain law and order during the day.
The national flag was hoisted at the top of public and private buildings to pay tribute to the Father of the nation. Various events, including seminars, debates, and exhibitions, were planned to mark the day.
As it was a public holiday, government offices, educational institutions etc. remained closed. Hundreds of people, majority youth, thronged to the Quaid-e-Azam's tomb to offer fateha.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah along with his cabinet members, Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, various political party leaders, civil society, and religious leaders also visited the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam to offer fateha on his birthday.
CM Sindh while talking to media said that the first and foremost principle of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was unity which was badly needed to resolve internal and external issues.
He said on our eastern border, India was playing holi with blood of its Muslim population and have introduced controversial citizenship bill to deprive its Muslim residents of their homeland, on the other hands Indian atrocities in held Kashmir were increasing day by day.
CM said that internally Pakistan was facing the challenges of economy, poverty, political unrest and national unity. "We all have to forge unity to face all the challenges to emerge as a sovereign nation," he said.
Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar laid floral wreath on mausoleum of the father of nation and registered his views in the visitors' book. Deputy mayor Syed Arshad Hasan, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, parliamentary leader in the city council Aslam Shah Afridi and elected representatives were also present on this occasion.
Later while talking to media Mayor Wasim said the nation must follow Quaid's teachings and adopt his vision on the federal and provincial level while formulating policies for the development and prosperity of the country.
Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, along with Additional IG Operations Sindh Amir Ahmad Sheikh and other senior police officers paid visits to the mausoleum offered fateha and laid floral wreath.
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also paid glowing tributes to Quaid-e-Azam. In his message on the occasion, the PPP Chairman said that Jinnah made a history by creating a country through an organic political and democratic struggle. His ideology of Two-Nation theory is proving more accurate with the passage of time.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was a visionary leader of South Asia who dreamt a separate country for Muslims to live cohesively and peacefully in the sub-continent.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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