Jinnah’s citizens – Dawn (21st Jan 2023)

Quaid e Azam’s Mohammad Ali Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a non-theocratic state where
religion would have nothing to do with the business of the state. Pakistan would be a state where
every individual will enjoy equal rights and privileges. Soon after his demise, Objective
Resolution was passed in 1949, which declared Allah as the sovereign authority. Equality of
status will no doubt be granted to the citizens but as enunciated by Islam. For Maududi and Shah
Bukhari, this had always been a heretical position, since it came into sharp conflict with the traditional
interpretations they favored, which treated non-Muslims, not as equal citizens, but as a separate class
altogether: the ahl-i-zimma or zimmis, who, while being eligible for protection upon payment of jizya.
The real bone of contention was whether this could be reconceptualized under the social contract of
democratization. Sris Chandra Chattopadhyay stated that Objective Resolution was not the voice
of the Great leader but of the Ulemas of the land. He chastised the majority for stabbing Jinnah
in the back soon after his demise by declaring a state religion. He stated that Pakistanis should
join together as members/citizens of a state rather than dividing themselves as majority or
minority. Time only proved him right.
1- Yogendra Nath Mandal, the only non-muslim who supported OR migrated to India.
2- Ahmadi protests in 1953 which later triggered the first Martial law of Pakistan and their
ex-communication in form of the 2nd amendment in 1974.