KARACHI: Pakistanis across the nation are celebrating the 148th birth anniversary of its founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with a series of events reflecting national pride and gratitude.
The day serves an as opportunity for the citizens to honour Jinnah;s role in the creation of Pakistan and to acknowledge his enduring legacy.
Read more: President, PM honour Jinnah’s legacy
The Capital Territory Police in Islamabad announced implementing extensive security measures to ensure the safety of citizens during the dual celebrations of Christmas and the Quaid-e-Azam Day.
A spokesperson for the police department announced that over 1,500 officers and personnel would be deployed across the district to maintain ‘peace’ and ‘order’.
Armed police will be stationed at Christian places of worship, with heightened security protocols in place throughout the celebrations.
Additional forces would be assigned to sensitive locations, particularly churches, to ensure the safety of worshippers.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) is expected to oversee all security operation, with supervisory officers maintaining ongoing communications with church officials to facilitate effective coordination.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General (IG) Islamabad called on leaders from all faiths to promote interfaith harmony during the Christmas festivities.
He confirmed that the CCTV cameras will be utilised to monitor events in real time.
The police’s Dolphin Squad, Ababeel Squad and other specialised units will conduct patrols around churches and Christian neighbourhoods.
Women police officers will be deployed for security checks at key locations during both, Christmas and the Quaid-e-Azam events.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on December 25, 1876 in Karachi, part of the then colonial British India. He was a barrister and politician who played a critical role in the establishment of Pakistan.
The Quaid served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League form 1913 until the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.
He would go on to become the country’s first Governor-General until his death a year later.
The Quaid trained as a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn in London. Upon returning to India, he shifted his focus from law to national politics, gaining prominence in the Indian National Congress during the early 20th century.
He initially advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity and was instrumental in the 1916 Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League.
In 1920, Jinnah resigned from the Congress due to its decision to pursue a campaign of ‘satyagraha’, which he viewed as a form of political chaos.
By 1940, the Quaid-e-Azam has concluded that Muslims in the Indian subcontinent required their own state to avoid political marginalisation in a unified nation.
That year, the Muslim League under Jinnah’s leadership passed the Lahore Resolution, calling for a separate nation for Indian Muslims.
During the Second World War, the Muslim League gained strength while Congress leaders were imprisoned. In the subsequent provincial elections, the League secured a majority of the seats reserved for the Muslims.
The inability of Congress and the Muslim League to agree on a power-sharing arrangement ultimately led to the decision for the independence of a Hindu-majority India and the establishment of a predominantly Muslim state of Pakistan.
The Quaid-e-Azam personally oversaw the establishment of refugee camps as 15 million people migrated across the borders of both countries.
Unfortunately, the nation lost its founder too early. Jinnah passed away at the age of 71 in September 1948, just over a year after Pakistan gained independence.
Read more: Nation to celebrate Quaid-e-Azam’s birth anniversary tomorrow
His legacy is deeply revered in Pakistan, with numerous institutions and public building named in his honour.
He was bestowed with the title of the “Quaid-e-Azam” (Great Leader) and “Baba-e-Qaum” (Father of the Nation).