Ideologically split Nation we are
I believe, we have always been an ideologically split Nation. There have always been differences of views between religious & liberal extremists especially on “the right lifestyle”; with both trying to dominate and influence the other. Both parties have always considered themselves Elite and Superior than the other. Both have displayed high egos and hatred against the other time and again. Having said that they have miraculously managed to coexist like a prolonged bad marriage.
In my opinion, Jinnah was a success only until the creation of Pakistan because most major Religious Opinion Leaders (ROLs) jelled in nicely with him for a common religious and/or economic cause. But later, in my opinion, these major ROLs plus some very high level members of Jinnah’s team (liberal lookalikes) felt betrayed by Jinnah after his first presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan (August 11, 1947), wherein he said, “…You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State”. For them it was a U-Turn and many of them silently stayed in power with him, waiting for the opportune moment to fulfill the sacred cause of establishing a theocratic state.
I have a strong feeling that my opinion (above) will turn into fact if a free & liberal investigation is carried out (even today) to find answers to the following questions:
- What were differing opinions on the issue of minorities amongst Jinnah’s Cabinet Members?
- Why did the Constituent Assembly adopt the “Objective Resolution” which was against the soul and spirit of Jinnah’s address of August 11, 1947, right after he died?
- Who sent that ambulance without fuel to Jinnah (on his last day), which hastened his end and the whole series of events starting from 2-3 weeks before Jinnah’s death?