Pakistan Day
23rd March is generally called “ Pakistan Day ” It is a monumental day for Pakistani people and possesses great historical importance. On 23rd March, 1940, the Pakistan resolution had been passed. After seven years, Pakistan came into existence. That’s why this resolution is, in fact, a mile stone for Pakistan. The resolution reads as:
“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.”
This resolution had been passed at Mantu Park, Lahore, where now Minar-i-Pakistan is situated. Now this park is called Iqbal Park. Therefore, it is also called Lahore Resolution. In Urdu, Pakistan Resolution or Lahore Resolution is known as “Qarardar-e-Pakistan” or “Qarardad-e-Lahore” respectively. It is interesting to mention here that the Pakistan Resolution was adopted on March 24, 1940, but officially, we celebrate the day of 23rd March as Pakistan Day.
Some of the important quotations of the Quaid-e-Azam on this auspicious occasion are given below:
“ Come forward as servants of Islam, organise the people economically, socially, educationally and politically and I am sure that you will be a power that will be accepted by everybody. ”
“ I still hope at any rate the better mind of the Hindus will give earnest and serious consideration to our proposals as there lies the achievement of India’s freedom at the earliest possible period. This freedom we shall be able to retain peacefully both internally and externally. ”
“I particularly appeal to our intelligentsia and Muslim students to come forward and rise to the occasion. You have performed wonders in the past. You are still capable of repeating the history. You are not lacking in the great qualities and virtues in comparison with the other nations. Only you have to be fully conscious of that fact and to act with courage, faith and unity.”
(Message to Pakistan Day, issued from Delhi on 23rd March, 1940)
Written by: N.R.Shaaiq
e-mail: [email protected]
