(Image: The Express Tribune)
Pakistanis will today commemorate the sixty-fifth anniversary of the passing of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation.
The day will be marked with special prayer services in the capital Islamabad, and at the Mr Jinnah’s tomb and mausoleum in Karachi. Referred to by Pakistanis as Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader), Muhammed Ali Jinnah passed away in Karachi after battling a lung condition for several months.
Just one year after the foundation of Pakistan, Jinnah’s death left the nation without clear leadership, an unfortunate consequence which arguably shapes Pakistan’s modern condition. Indian politician Jaswant Singh writes that “with Jinnah’s death Pakistan lost its moorings”.
Interesting that it is considered that modern day Pakistan’s “condition” can be related to this man’s death. Has there ever been a time in it’s short history that it has had a “real leader” or anyone like him. Did he have offspring who have gone to the political path?
Thanks for reading! Pakistan’s founder did have one daughter, Dina, but she was estranged from her father and now lives in London, aged 94. She has only ever been to Pakistan a couple of times.
Since 1948, Pakistan has not produced a leader quite like Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The Bhutto family have been very influential, but are also very divisive. The same can be said of current PM Nawaz Sharif (who has served previous terms). And then there have been military rulers for long periods of history – some of whom have been fairly visionary, but none of whom could truly unite the nation.