Jinnah's vision of Muslim nationalism.

Byline: Syed Fazl-E-Haider

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a clear vision of Muslim nationalism in the subcontinent and he presented it in crystal-clear words in his presidential address on the occasion of Pakistan resolution on 23rd March 1940, when he said, "We are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, value and proportion, legal laws and moral codes, customs and calendars, history and tradition, aptitudes and ambitions; in short, we have our own distinctive outlook of life and on life. By all canons of international law, we are a nation."

As a nation we celebrate Pakistan Day on 23rd of March each year to revive and highlight the ideals and views of the father of the nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah especially with regard to his vision of Muslim nationalism and of Pakistan as federal state.

National integration is rooted in the ideology of Pakistan, which is based on the Two-Nation Theory - the proposition put forward in pre-partition India that the Hindus and the Muslims were two separate nations, and so should be able to live in separate homelands. The theory united the Muslims into a strong pressure group and forced the hand of the British into partitioning the subcontinent in 1947. By invoking the 'Ideology of Pakistan' to portray Muslims as a monolithic group, the State has ensured that being a Muslim becomes simultaneously an individual and a collective identity, one that transcends all class, race, ethnic and even national boundaries.

The Muslims of the sub-continent unanimously struggled for a separate homeland where they could flourish their distinctive national features, as given by Quaid-e-Azam. The national integration is in fact a force, which emanates from these distinctive features and binds the Pakistani people speaking different languages and belonging to different ethnic groups, into a compact body.

Today, Pakistan is beset by multi-dimensional challenges. The nationalism must replace sectarianism and parochialism. Similarly, peace and tolerance should replace terrorism and extremism. These miracles are possible if all segments and institutions of society stand unanimous and united on one national agenda of strengthening Pakistan. The country needs to activate the forces of national cohesion and weaken the forces of national disintegration.

Each year, we enthusiastically celebrate the 23rd of March to commemorate the most outstanding achievement of the...