Istehqaam-e-Pakistan (Stability of Pakistan)

“The story of Pakistan, its struggle and its achievement, is the very story of great human
ideals, struggling to survive in the face of great odds and difficulties.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Introduction
Pakistan is a country that was founded in the name of Islam. It was meant to be a place where its
countrymen would have the freedom of practicing their religion without impunity. But as the last
74 years have proven, its mere foundation was not enough. It takes an undying effort to create
and maintain a haven that Pakistan was meant to be. Hence, the young generation needs to be
fully integrated, empowered, enervated and geared to the cause. Today, Pakistan is facing both
internal and external challenges to its stability. Therefore, it is important to identify and
understand the modes which make Pakistan stable collectively.
Religious stability
Pakistan was created in the name of Islam but it also allows a persecution-free room to the non-
Muslim community. However, it is unfortunate how different sects of Islam have been at daggers
drawn hence making peace unstable. Minor differences in lifestyles or religious views must not
end up in bloody resolutions because that is a never-ending battle. Instead, we should study the
lives of Islamic scholars and especially the saints who maintained a peaceful environment in
India for a thousand years by being receptive to what others had to say and heard them with
profound tolerance. These saints promoted an overall attitude of love for all mankind which
caused many Hindus to become Muslims. Such attitude of tolerance is being sorely missed in the
current scenario where Muslims are fighting against each other over trivial matters. There needs
to be an air of tolerance in which all are free to breathe. To promote this, the youth needs to be
educated specifically in matters related to tolerance. They should be able to analyze things from
various perspectives and put themselves in others’ shoes. This would surely create a peaceful
religious environment.
“The great majority of us are Muslims. We follow the teachings of the Prophet
Mohammed (may peace be upon him). We are members of the brotherhood of Islam in
which all are equal in rights, dignity and self-respect. Consequently, we have a special
and a very deep sense of unity. But make no mistake: Pakistan is not a theocracy or
anything like it.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Political stability
Pakistan has been bitterly suffering from the politics of hate for decades. Many politicians find it
best to divide the people and pit them against each other instead of uniting them for betterment
of the country. This strategy, coupled with general intolerance for opposing views, has created an
atmosphere where critical public policies are not pursued continuously. Even the governments
feel insecure about their future. To cure this, the youth of the country must take keen interest in
politics and question those in power about their rights and duties. They must be able to elect
trustworthy people who can complete their terms without controversies and think only about the
improvement of Pakistan. Simultaneously, they must be careful to drive out hate politics and be
mindful whenever it rears its ugly head. The goal should be to foster democracy circumscribed in
the freedoms allowed by Islam.

“You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of democracy, Islamic
social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
The ideology of Pakistan draws heavily from the concepts presented by Allama Iqbal who
visualized what kind of a country Pakistan should be. After studying the woes of the Indians
under the British rule, he concluded that there is no recourse for Muslims to recover from their
plight until and unless they prioritize the Islamic form of government. He implores the Muslims
to opt for the Islamic system and forego all other forms including capitalism, socialism, fascism
and the Western version of democracy.
Geographical stability
Pakistan’s geographical location has always been quite critical. It is a hub that is connected to the
Middle East, India, and China. The strained relations with India have been a cause of concern
since the very early days of Pakistan. Further, the terrorists from the west have also put
Pakistan’s stability at risk. Therefore, the youth needs to be taught how the military and civil
administrations of the country can work and harmony. There is currently an emerging discourse
that is pitting the people of Pakistan against its army. This discourse is promoted largely by the
enemies of the state and our youth must be able to identify these enemies and either ignore that
discourse or confront them. Such discourse puts the country at risk against geographical threats
as the army should only be focused on external threats than those emerging from the inside.
Also, they need to be aware of the geographical challenges and understand how these can be
tackled effectively in the future. Pakistan must have a friendly border from all sides and the
attitude of tolerance in the youth would surely come in handy.
Conclusion
Pakistani youth is its largest asset and the only hope for the country’s stability and progress. The
youth needs to be educated and be taught to view things critically. Also, it needs to be provided
the freedom to expand in all walks of life as they please. Pakistan’s stability depends on a
concerted effort from all directions. The youth is the common denominator in all of these as the
most influential force.
“My message to you all is of hope, courage and confidence. Let us mobilize all our
resources in a systematic and organized way and tackle the grave issues that confront us
with grim determination and discipline worthy of a great nation.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah