Fatima Jinnah remembered as stalwart political leader, Quaid’s guardian angel
The Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) organized a reference at the Aiwan-e-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park to pay rich tributes to Madr-e-Millat (Mother of the Nation) Ms Fatima Jinnah on her 58th death anniversary (July 31, 1893-July 9, 1967).
The speakers including eminent intellectuals, academicians, workers of the Pakistan Movement, students and writers called Ms Fatima Jinnah a towering political figure, an inspiration for the women and above all a constant support and guardian angel to her brother Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Prof JalilAali, noted poet and guest of honour on the occasion called Fatima Jinnah a mesmerizing leader who braving all odds and obstacles stood firmly and defiantly against the dictators of the day. She was the symbol of the political unity of the East and the West Pakistan and contested in Pakistan’s first direct elections as a joint candidate of all the political parties.
Aali spoke about the vision of Fatima Jinnah who at a time when women were not actively participating in the political arena not only took active part in politics but also rallied women and deprived classes for a joint cause.
Aali said remembering our heroes and great personalities serves as a reminder to follow their footsteps and always keep them before our eyes as our role models.
He commended the NPC Chairman Mian Muhammad Javed and the Muhammad Idrees Azad for re-enkindling the flame of patriotism in our hearts by remembering and talking about Fatima Jinnah.
Muhammad Idrees Azad said it went to Fatima Jinnah’s credit that she refused to bow her head before Field Marshal Ayub Khan the Military Dictator of the day and by doing so gave a message to the masses ‘Never surrender before the oppressor.’
She had in her mind a model of the newly born state of Pakistan regarding its constitution, way forward and relations with the world.
Chairman of the NPC Mian Muhammad Javed said Fatima Jinnah was a towering personality and a constant support to Quaid-e-Azam. She like a guardian angel took every care of her brother and stood by him like steadfast rock.
Senior Member of the NPC Executive Committee and former diplomat, SalahuddinChaudhry said Fatima Jinnah made countrywide visits during her campaign for the Presidential election. She came to Chittagong (now Bangladesh city) and expressed her regret that she could not speak Bangla language. This showed how important she regarded the language of the local as an effective tool of communication.
However, despite the fact she was not speaking their language, the people of Chittagong came in large numbers to attend her address and gave her a VIP protocol. Noted writer and educationist Farida Hafiz regretted that as a writer our priorities had changed. We celebrate the days of our heroes and noted personalities but we no more follow their vision. How fortunate we are that we had woman of great calibre like Fatima Jinnah. In the poetic recital that followed MehmoodaGhazia, DrMazharIqbal, Naeem Khalid, AaliShaarBangash, AfshanAbbasi, WafaChishti, FarkhandaShamim, Muhammad GulNazuk, Sohail Malik, NusratYabNusrat, KhurramKhaliq, QayyumTahir and others paid rich tributes to Fatima Jinnah. HameedQaiser Director Media of the NPC conducted the proceedings of the reference.
