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March 23, 2011 - Pakistanis Recalling the Lahore Resolution

Elmo

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Hey guys,

It's a holiday tomorrow and most of you'd be home.

How about you share some memories, and if the day means something to you post your comments here.

Elmo.
 
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That's in the Indian Defence subforum. Want this one to be Pakistan centric.
 
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‎23rd March was the day when the struggles were streamlined.
There were no individual benefits, everyone was thinking on a broader prospect,
everyone was thinking for Pakistan.
There were no Sindhis, Balouchis, Pathans, Kashmiris,
Punjabis and Bengalis, they were all united.
 
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71st Pakistan Day

MANILA, Philippines – PAKISTAN – “Land of the Pure” in Urdu and Persian – celebrates on Wednesday Pakistan Day to commemorate the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution on March 23, 1940, in Lahore. It also celebrates the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan in 1958, on the same day, during the transition of the Dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.


Even before the 1940s, the creation of an independent Muslim state in India had long been desired by Muslim minority. After World War II and the defeat of the Muslim League in the general election in 1937, Pakistan obtained its independence from the British Raj on August 14, 1947.


Various events both in private and public offices are celebrated during Pakistan Day. Spreading knowledge and importance of the Pakistani Resolution is brought up for all schools in the country including various cultural aspects of Pakistan that distinguishes it from other nations. Keynote speakers deliver speeches about the role of ordinary Pakistan citizens in maintaining peace and order and supporting the economic progress of the country.


The government also holds military parades and the famous Pakistan Air Force planes acrobatic demonstration in Islamabad. Wreaths are placed at the mausoleums of Muhammad Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding leaders of Pakistan.
 
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This was the day of our "manifest destiny" and what a beautiful day it must have been, this was the day when we realized our birth rite.

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The principle text of the Lahore Resolution was signed actually on 24 March,but officially 23th march is considered as signing date of that resolution. In 1941 it became part of the Muslim League's constitution. In 1946, it formed the basis for the decision of Muslim League to struggle for one state for the Muslims.

The statement declared:

No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.


Additionally, it stated:

That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in the units and in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of the minorities.

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How about you share some memories, and if the day means something to you post your comments here.

Thanks Elmo.

I am sure that memories of this day is special for every Pakistani. I mostly remember this day for national parade. It was always held near my home so it was very easy for me to just cross two roads and watch live parade. Whenever this day comes these are the images that i recall.

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Display of cultural models in the end was nothing less exciting.

I miss those times. Peaceful, happy and a sense of pride that i miss now.
 
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We have failed the Lahore Resolution – The Express Tribune

We have failed the Lahore Resolution

By Rubina Saigol

On March 23, 1940, the chief minister of Bengal, Maulvi Fazlul Haq presented the Lahore Resolution, later termed the Pakistan Resolution, at the 27th annual meeting of the All-India Muslim League held at Minto Park. The pivotal paragraphs of the resolution read as follows:

“It is the considered view of this session of the All India Muslim League that no Constitutional Plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to the Muslims, unless it is designed on the following basic principle, namely that geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North Western and Eastern Zones of India would be grouped to constitute ‘Independent States’ in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.”

The Resolution further stated “that adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in the units and in the regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of the minorities, with their consultation. Arrangements thus should be made for the security of Muslims where they were in a minority”. The session further “authorises the Working Committee to frame a scheme of constitution in accordance with these basic principles, providing for the assumption finally by the respective regions of all powers such as defence, external affairs, communications, customs, and such other matters as may be necessary.”

The Lahore Resolution was passed the next day, on March 24, 1940, and is widely believed to be the basis of the subsequent struggle for the establishment of Pakistan. However, a close reading of the text suggests that what was envisioned in 1940 differed in significant ways from the kind of state that emerged seven years later.

Firstly, while there is reference to “areas in which Muslims are numerically in majority”, there is no reference to a state based on religion. Subsequently, effective and adequate safeguards are sought not only for Muslims, where they constitute a minority, but also for minorities in Muslim majority areas. It is promised that the religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of non-Muslims citizens would be protected with their consultation. In a sense, it can be argued that a theoretical equality was envisaged between Muslims and non-Muslims depending on which group constituted a minority.

The most telling lines of the Resolution are contained in the third paragraph which reads: “North Western and Eastern Zones of India would be grouped to constitute ‘Independent States’ in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign”. It seems that instead of one state, a group of states were envisaged, with each one being autonomous and sovereign. Instead of a monolithic state, a confederation appears to be imagined, since the idea of sovereignty is tied strongly to national states and not provinces.

The fifth paragraph, in fact, elaborates a little on the meaning of ‘sovereignty’ as the session tasks the Working Committee to frame a scheme of constitution that provides for the assumption by “respective regions of all powers such as defence, external affairs, communications, customs, and such other matters as may be necessary”. Here, there is reference to ‘respective regions’ and earlier to ‘independent states’ that would be sovereign and autonomous. Significantly, the resolution bestows the powers of defence, foreign affairs, communications and administrative matters, such as collection of customs duties, to the regions or states, rather than to a centralised entity.

The Resolution of 1940 thus does not merely envision maximum provincial autonomy; rather it goes much further and suggests a confederation of states or a loose federation with most of the powers vested in the states. The state that eventually emerged in 1947 acquired two characteristics that in fact nullified the principles contained within the Lahore Resolution. One, religious minorities were not given the appropriate safeguards with their consultation and the state moved steadily toward the imposition of one version of one religion on the country, with laws relegating the minorities to a secondary position. Secondly, Pakistan moved progressively toward centralised and authoritarian rule, thus negating the sovereign status of the regions which became merely constituent units of the state. With the passage of the 18th constitutional amendment, some powers have, at least theoretically, been devolved to the provinces, but we are still light years away from the promise of the Lahore Resolution.

Ironically and tragically, March 25 comes just one day after March 24, the day the resolution was passed. On the night of March 25, 1971, the army action began in former East Pakistan and soon turned into genocide, with millions of Bengalis mercilessly butchered and thousands raped by the defenders of the country. ‘Operation Searchlight’ was a complete negation of the independence and sovereignty embedded in the Lahore Resolution. The West Pakistani rulers, both military and civilian, refused to hand over power to the duly elected Awami League, which resulted in a resistance movement that culminated with the liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971. The unit of the federation in which the Muslim League was established in 1906 seceded from the federation!

Ironically, Mujibur Rehman’s ‘six points’ were in accordance with the levels of autonomy and sovereignty implicit and explicit in the Lahore Resolution. In fact the six points represented a federal, parliamentary form of government, and were in agreement that defence and foreign affairs should remain with the federal government. However, fiscal policies and the right to maintain a separate militia were to remain with the federating units. The West Pakistani rulers, who had used the resources generated by East Pakistani exports to invest in West Pakistan’s development, termed Mujibur Rehman a traitor for demanding the just rights of his people.

Today, as we once again remember the Lahore Resolution of March 1940, it may be instructive to reflect upon our actions in East Bengal and apply the lessons learned to another alienated people — that of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2011.
 
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Cultural programmes to color Pakistan day celebrations today :)

ISLAMABAD, Mar 22 (APP): A variety of cultural programmes will color the grounds of Federal Capital on March 23 to celebrate Pakistan day by the leading art and cultural institutions.The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage, Lok Virsa, Ministry of Culture will hold day long events at Shakar Parian.The day will focus on an Artisans-at-work exhibition featuring master artisans in the specialized craft fields of Namda, Gabba, carpet, embroidery, papier mache, metal works and wood works to be held at Pak-China Friendship Centre.

A traditional dance group from Multan, attired in colourful costumes, will also perform at Pak-China Friendship Centre throughout the day.
While Shaukat Ali and party, traditional drummers (Dholis) will perform all day at Lok Virsa to welcome the visitors.
The Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, popularly called as Heritage Museum, and the National Monument Museum at Shakaparian will also remain open for public from 10.00 a.m. to. 8.00 p.m.
The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) has arranged 2-day activities to highlight the importance of day and Lahore resolution.
The programmes include musical show, regional dances, tableaus, short plays, on spot painting, presentation of national songs and puppet show to celebrate the day till March 24.
The events will primarily focus on engaging youth to spread the message of peace and harmony through soft expressions of art.
Students from various educational institutions of twin cities will participate in these programmes while Rohan Abbas, young singer from Lahore (The winner of the singing programme “Chotey Ustad”) has also been invited to perform alongwith the artists of National Performing Arts Group (NPAG).
On March 23, the PNCA will hold a grand musical evening at Pak-China Friendship Center in which renowned artists from all over the country, including Tarrnum Naz, Rafaqat Ali Khan, Shaukat Ali, Sain Tahir, Bashir Baloch, Humera Naz, Subhan Rathar, Shan, Sanam Marvi, Taj Mastani, Taj Bulaidi, Lucky Ali, Qurban Niazi, and Rohan Abbas (Chotey Ustad) will perform.
Award winning movie, “Khuda Ka Liye” will be screened at PNCA auditorium on March 24 for general public to provide them with quality entertainment opportunities.

Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Cultural programmes to color Pakistan day celebrations tomorrow
 
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@mehru

i think i have done being an optimist.
 
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Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Culture Ministry releases latest edition of Jinnah papers

Culture Ministry releases latest edition of Jinnah papers

ISLAMABAD, Mar 22 (APP): Quaid-i-Azam Papers Wing, Ministry of Culture, has brought out the eighteenth edition of the Jinnah Papers series on the auspicious occasion of the 71st anniversary of the historic Lahore Resolution adopted on March 23 ,1940.Editor-in-Chief QAPW, Akram Shaheedi while talking to APP on Tuesday said that Lahore resolution held at the Muslim League session under the leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam “the sole spokesman”, vowed to struggle for a separate homeland for Muslims where they could lead their collective and individual lives without the tyranny of the ‘permanent majority’ and in accordance with their traditions and values.

He said that new edition also encompasses the period that translated the dream of Allama Iqbal earlier in the shape of Lahore Resolution which came true on 14th of August 1947 under the astute leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam ‘who altered the course of history, modified the map of the world and created a new nation.’

The new edition (April-September 1942) will provide authentic and well documented material pertaining to the extreme odds in the way of the freedom movement that were posed by the British and the Congress’s hawks who were not prepared to accommodate the Muslims and the other minorities in any political settlement offered by the British.

He pointed out that the moderate lobby led by Rajgopalacharia was sympathetic to the demands of Muslim League but it failed to convince the leadership of the Congress which instead launched a movement of civil obedience on the call of Mahatma Gandhi in order to press their demand for full independence to India.

Quaid-i-Azam opposed the civil disobedience movement and urged the Muslims to stay away from it as it was meant to establish Hindu Raj in India that he would not let it happen come what may. It would have reduced the Muslim to second class citizenry, the Quaid maintained.
The Editor-in Chief said the latest edition will also provide valuable material to the research scholars and the people who are interested to know more about the various facets of the freedom movement that it had to undergo and also to throw light on the paragon constitutional role of the Father of the Nation for the attainment of the political goals.
The Chief Editor said, ironically the champions of non-violence were treading the turf without compunction which was glaringly incompatible to their professed ideology.

The QAPW project was likely to complete within next couple of years which was started in 1991 under the Chief Editorship of late Dr. Zawwar Hussain Zaidi, to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation by publishing documents of freedom struggle in which the Quaid’s role as the sole representative of Muslims of India has been highlighted with due deference to other leaders.
He said the nations all over the world do compile and publish such works as a worthwhile undertaking with the sole purpose of popularizing the ideals and thoughts of their national heroes for the posterity.

The Editor-in-Chief regretted that the post independence era of Pakistan had been predominantly mired by pernicious interludes of disfranchisement of all and sundry while the elite amassed the national resources in utter disregard to the ideology of Pakistan, vision of the Quaid and the religion that gives primacy to social justice. The politics of deceit and force have taken its toll as the country is confronted with the multiple problems threatening its whole edifice.

The Editor-in-Chief concluded that democracy was the essence of the ideology of Pakistan in the real sense and its pursuit would lead to the establishment of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in real sense where all will be equal before law without discrimination, and thus collective and individual lives of its citizens would be worth living indeed.
 
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