Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) aggrieved leader Sardar Latif Khosa has officially joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday “on the wish” of former prime minister and founder PTI Imran Khan.
“I have made the decision not only in the interest of the country and democracy, but also to raise my voice vigorously for the truth,” he said.
Sardar Khosa announced during a press conference in Lahore that he is joining PTI, expressing hope that the politics of hatred would end.
Khosa also said that a country’s constitution is supreme, adding that it has all the characteristics of a welfare state.
“The motherland can become prosperous if we follow the Constitution. The Constitution has a solution for everything if it is implemented in its true spirit,” he said.
He also mentioned that a barrister (Allama Muhammad Iqbal) came up with the idea of Pakistan, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah completed it.
“I have dedicated my services to PTI. I am free to join a party of my choosing,” Khosa said, adding that he would not talk about what he lost or gained in the PPP.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav of showing his love to Pakistan and its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
“Jinnah se jo kare pyaar, wo Pakistan se kaise kare inkaar (Those who love Jinnah, how can they reject Pakistan),” said Patra on Monday.
Opposition party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently shared his views on China’s investment in India during an interview with The Economic Times and said that China, not Pakistan was India’s real enemy.
“Our real enemy is China. Pakistan is our political enemy. But BJP only targets Pakistan because of their vote politics,” said Yadav.
He further added that China has intruded in the territory of India and its businesses.
He commented, “The Indian government should think about this and consult opposition parties on how to deal with the situation.”
Patra accused Yadav of “love” for Pakistan.
Prior to this incident, BJP leaders also targeted Yadav over his remarks on Independence from the British rule last year at a public gathering.
He was accused by the ruling government that he gave credit to Jinnah for India’s independence from British rule.
Yadav apparently said in the video shared by BJP leaders, “Jinnah became a barrister after studying in the same institution. He obtained his education and served as a barrister in the same place. He got freedom for India. He did not back down from any struggle…”
“जिन्ना ने हमें आज़ादी दिलायी!”
चंद वोटों के लिए देश को तोड़कर पाकिस्तान बनाने वाले जिन्ना को अखिलेश यादव अब्बा मान बैठे हैं।
However, a fact-check by AltNews revealed that the clip was distorted and was actually a two-minute-long video.
The Indian news agency, ANI, posted the complete video on Twitter on October 31, 2021.
Yadav said, “Sardar Patel used to make decisions keeping in mind the situation on the ground. He would only make decisions after gaining a proper understanding of what was happening at the grassroots level. That’s why he is known as the Iron Man of India. Sardar Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and [Muhammad Ali] Jinnah became barristers after attending the same institution. They got freedom for India. They did not back down from any struggles. It was Iron Man of India Sardar Patel who imposed a ban on an ideology (RSS).”
#WATCH | Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah studied in the same institute. They became barristers and fought for India’s freedom… It was Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who imposed a ban on an ideology (RSS): SP chief Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/Pz3HkSrqn8
Recently, we heard about two bakeries in Karachi that refused to write ‘Merry Christmas’ on cakes. Both Delizia and Aunty Munaver turned away customers who wanted cakes with Christmas greetings. It is deeply disturbing to see such acts of bigotry in a country whose founder and others who fought for its freedom believed in rights for all and equality regardless of caste, creed, and faith. Yet we see how non-Muslims in Pakistan continue to face discrimination on a regular basis.
Today, when we celebrate Christmas with our Christian brethren and wish them a day full of joy, we hope that our society will change for the better. Today is also the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who taught us the meaning of tolerance and who believed in pluralism and inclusiveness.
We often repeat and quote Jinnah’s August 11 speech but it is important to reiterate what he said again and again: “We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state.”
This is what Pakistan stands for as this is what our founder taught us. It was good to see many people raising their voices against those bakeries that refused to write Merry Christmas on their cakes. It was social media outcry that led to Delizia bakery management on the backfoot and saying that it was an individual act. Whether it was an individual act or not can be ascertained as this isn’t the first time that such an incident took place. This year, we saw the horrible lynching of a Sri Lankan national. The government took strong exception to the incident and promised to take action against all those responsible. But the incident also showed how intolerance has seeped into our society. It is this bigotry and intolerance that has to end. On the birth anniversary of Jinnah, we should pledge to make this Jinnah’s Pakistan and not a Pakistan where extremism prospers. Once again, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating.
The nation is celebrating 146th birthday of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah today (Saturday). Skipper of the national cricket team Babar Azam and other Pakistani cricketers also took to their social media accounts to pen heartfelt notes.
“Visionary leader, ambassador of humanity, equality and tolerance. May all of us try to fulfill our obligations for our courageous country. Happy Birthday to our Quaid,” wrote Babar on Twitter.
Visionary leader, ambassador of humanity, equality and tolerance. May all of us try to fulfill our obligations for our courageous country. Happy Birthday to our Quaid. pic.twitter.com/gBkhbnTujl
Taking to Twitter, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi thanked Quaid for this nation saying: “Let’s celebrate our founding Father by taking an oath to make Pakistan great, happy & prosperous by ensuring the well being of the masses & the poor. Join me by doing your part in actualizing Quaid’s vision of unity & equality.”
Similarly, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Imam-ul-Haq, Ahmad Shahzad and Wahab Riaz took to their respective social media accounts to write a few words to thank the Father of the Nation.
A very happy birthday to the man who gave us this beautiful country. The country which made me who i am today. The country which i proudly represent. #QuaidDaypic.twitter.com/9oyx4lt0Hz
– With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there’s nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve, The Great Jinnah #QuaidDaypic.twitter.com/ImibRq3apW
Pakistani woman cricketer Sidra Amin also shared Quaid’s quote.
“Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslims ideology which has to be preserved, which has come to us as a precious gift and treasure and which,we hope other will share with us”#25DecMAJinnahDay
Former cricketer and current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja also thanked Quaid for this beautiful country.
#QuaideAzam “I do not believe in taking the right decision, I take a decision and make it right.” Just want to thank you for the priceless, numerous gifts you gave us: a Country, a name, recognition. This heart of mine shall never forget you.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in his message on the occasion of birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has emphasised upon the youth to adopt Quaid’s attributes of honesty, hard work, perseverance and dedication.
He said we as a nation need to adopt these attributes to realize Quaid’s vision of a developed, progressive and tolerant Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said Muhammad Ali Jinnah realised the importance of a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent where all citizens could enjoy freedom of faith, occupation and equal opportunities.
Pakistani Celebrities took to their Instagram stories to share strong opinions against Karachi-based bakeries, ‘Delizia’ and Auntie Muanaver’s ‘Food and Dessert’ where one of their staff refused to write ‘Merry Christmas’ to the customers. Netizens also called out on social media against the bakeries and urged them to boycott.
Actress and Video Jockey (VJ), Anoushey Ashraf wrote in her story that writing ‘Merry Christmas’ does not weaken our faith. She emphasised that it is the job of the staff to compel the request of customers.
The Zindagi Gulzar Hai star Sanam Saeed also took to her Instagram story to express disappointment over the behaviour of bakery staff. She tagged both bakeries, Delizia and Auntie Muanaver’s Food, and reminded them about the representation of white colour in our flag.
Shehnai diva Ramasha Khan who is currently appearing in ARY Digital’s serial, Sinf-e- Aahan, also tweeted about the incident and shared one of the quotes of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Earlier, the customer reported the incident on a Facebook group “Voice of Customer PK” in which she said that she went to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) branch of Delizia where she was refused to write ‘Merry Christmas’ by their staff. She also stressed to the bakeries that they should not make money from their religious occasions as well if they are so much against non-Muslims and their religions.
The management of both bakeries are yet to release an official statements to the public.
In 2018, the same incident happened in the Badar Commercial branch of Delizia bakery when a customer was refused a cake with ‘Merry Christmas’ written on it. The staff made a similar excuse at that time as well that it was not company instructions. It was reported on another Facebook page, Karachi Food Diary.
In yet another Twitter blunder from political quarters, the official Twitter handle of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday-Tuesday midnight mistakenly dated the Lahore Resolution of 1940 as a 1947 event, which was passed seven years before actual independence.
“23rd March: Pakistan Resolution Day Back in 1947, our ancestors resolved on this day to lay the foundation of Pakistan. On this day, once again we resolve to save our homeland from corruption and rebuild Pakistan!” read a tweet that was deleted after netizens pointed out the blunder.
Here’s the new tweet:
23rd March: Pakistan Resolution Day Back in 1940, our ancestors resolved on this day to lay the foundation of Pakistan. On this day, once again we resolve to save our homeland from corruption and rebuild Pakistan! #PakistanDaypic.twitter.com/YJzge9ESZ9
The Lahore Resolution was a formal political statement of declaration of independence of Pakistan adopted by the All-India Muslim League on the occasion of its three-day general session in Lahore from March 22–24, 1940.
The resolution called for independent states as seen by this statement:
That geographically contiguous units are demarcated regions which should be constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of (British) India should be grouped to constitute ‘independent states’ in which the constituent units should be autonomous and sovereign.
Today marks 81 years since its adoption that was followed by creation of Pakistan seven years later in 1947.
Despite efforts made over the span of more than a year, Punjab’s anti-corruption department has failed to retrieve Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s property from land grabbers in Lahore, it has been claimed.
According to Lahore-based journalist Rehan Tariq, the 29-kanal land owned by the founder of Pakistan in the provincial capital’s Gulberg area has been occupied while shopping malls and plazas have been constructed on lands linked to his sister and “Mother of the Nation”, Fatima Jinnah, as well as the country’s first prime minister (PM) Liaquat Ali Khan.
The journalist went on to claim that the anti-corruption department launched a probe into the matter in December 2019 and it also sought record from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) besides other public offices.
“Officials also acquired Jinnah’s will regarding the land and prepared a source report,” Tariq said, adding that Jinnah’s property consisted of Arazi Khasra No 2181, 2129, 2200, 2180, 21825, 2184.
Now shopping malls and plazas have been built on the land dedicated to a trust, he claimed.
In his first presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, “Now if we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor […] if you change your past and work together in a spirit that every one of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this state with equal rights, privileges and obligations, there will be no end to the progress you will make.”
The Quaid made a case for equality of all citizens of Pakistan regardless of their colour, caste, or creed.
In the same speech, he said, “I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.”
Christmas is just around the corner. We must remember Jinnah’s words. We must keep this in mind if we want Pakistan to progress. Recently we saw the case of a minor Christian girl Arzoo Raja’s forced conversion and underage marriage. Both the Sindh government and the federal government played their part in ensuring that justice was served. Every year, we see hundreds of cases of forced conversions in the country, most of them young Hindu and Christian girls. This is a worrying trend.
Christians, Hindus and people belonging to other minority faiths have equal rights as citizens of Pakistan according to our Constitution. Unfortunately, we see discrimination against minorities around us all the time. From giving separate utensils to minority workers at our homes, workplaces to using derogatory terms for them, we show our bigotry and racism without even acknowledging it. We casually remark on people’s colour or caste or religion without realising how wrong it is.
On this Christmas Day, and every other religious celebration of minorities, we should ensure that we don’t discriminate. Due to COVID-19, this year’s celebrations may not be as festive as in the past but through kindness and interfaith harmony, we can spread a message of love and cheer.
