Why was Pakistan created?
While some prefer to emphasise the economic independence within secular Pakistan, others dream of theocracy like Iran. They try to support their perceptions by misquoting and twisting sayings of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Both are far from the reality. This fundamental question has been settled through Objectives Resolution, adopted by first constituent assembly on March 9, 1949, and subsequently by all assemblies till now. Any ambiguity was further clarified by Liaquat Ali Khan, the 1st Prime Minister of Pakistan, also a close associate of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his speech on the Objectives Resolution, March 9, 1949.
"Pakistan was founded because the Muslims of this sub-continent wanted to build up their lives in accordance with the teachings and traditions of Islam, because they wanted to demonstrate to theworld that Islam provides a panacea tothe many diseases which have crept intothe life of humanity today."
"Islam does not recognize either priesthood or any sacerdotal authority; and, therefore, the question of a theocracy simply doesnot arise in Islam. If there are any who still use the word theocracy in the samebreath as the polity ofPakistan, they are either labouring under a grave misapprehension, or indulging in mischievous"propaganda."
"The Preamble of the Resolution deals witha frank and unequivocal recognition of the fact that all authority must be subservient to God. It is quite true that this is in direct contradiction to the Machiavellian ideas regarding a polity where spiritual and ethical values should play no part in the governance of the people and, therefore,it is also perhaps a little out of fashion toremind ourselves of the fact that the Stateshould be an instrument of beneficence and not of evil."
"The Muslim [in Pakistan] shall be enabled to order theirlives in the individualand collective spheresin accord with the teachings and requirements of Islamas set out in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah"
[Excerpts: Liaquat Ali Khan, the 1st Prime Minister of Pakistan, o n the Objectives Resolution, March 9, 1949]
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The Objectives Resolution is a basic and primary document of the constitutional history of Pakistan. It is a framework that provides mechanism to achieve goals for a better life of the people of Pakistan. It's important that it embraces centrality of Islam to polity sustaining their links with the pre-independence period. The AIML leaders were modernist Muslims not in favour of an orthodox religious state or theocracy, as elucidated by Liaqat Ali Khan, the Prime Minister in his address. Therefore, they selected the middle way abiding by the Islamic laws and the international democratic values. The Resolution remains 'Preamble of all the constitutionsdue to its importance.
The Objectives Resolution was adopted on 12 March 1949 by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan . The resolution, proposed by the Prime Minister , Liaquat Ali Khan , proclaimed that the future constitution of Pakistan would not be modelled entirely on a European pattern, but on the ideology and democratic faith of Islam . It has been incorporated in successive constitutions. The Objectives Resolution proclaimed the following principles:
1. Sovereignty belongs to Allah alone but He has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through its people forbeing exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust.
2. The State shall exercise its powers and authority throughthe chosen representatives of the people.
3. The principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam , shall be fully observed.
4. Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings of Islam as set out in the Qur'an and Sunnah .
5. Adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures.
6. Pakistan shall be a federation .
7. Fundamental rights shall be guaranteed.
8. The judiciary shall be independent .
The Objectives Resolution, which combines features of both Western and Islamic democracy , is one of the most important documents in the constitutional history of Pakistan. At the time it was passed, Liaquat Ali Khan called it"the most important occasion in the life of this country, next in importance only to the achievement of independence". It is included in the Annex of thecurrent Constitution of Pakistan by virtue of Article 2A of the Constitution.
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