Defining Moments in Pakistan’s Path to Independence

APP

Peshawar: The Pakistan Resolution of March 23, 1940, marked a significant turning point in the struggle for independence and the Pakistan Movement.

Following its passage, the Muslims of the Sub-Continent, led by figures such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, alongside other leaders of the All India Muslim League (AIML), embarked on a historic movement to establish Pakistan.

This goal was achieved within a remarkably short span of seven years.

Every year on March 23, both within Pakistan and abroad, the nation commemorates this pivotal moment, paying tribute to the leaders of the Pakistan Movement.

It serves as an occasion for reflection and renewal, with individuals reaffirming their commitment to the strengthening of Pakistan.

Dr Fakharul Islam, an Advisor and Academician Outreach Editor for the research journal “Policy Perspective” at the Institute of Policy Studies, highlighted that the passage of the resolution accelerated the Movement for Pakistan, as evidenced by subsequent events.

The policymakers noted that the All India Muslim League’s electoral success surged from winning only 20 percent of the Muslim seats in the 1937 elections to capturing 95.5 percent of them in 1946.

After the 1946 elections, the elected representatives gathered in Delhi and affirmed their victory in the name of Pakistan. They pledged unwavering commitment to this cause until its realization. Dr Islam further elucidated that prior to the Pakistan Resolution, Muslims were perceived as a minority in India due to their numerical inferiority compared to Hindus.

However, their distinct characteristics rendered them a significant and influential minority, not easily subdued.

One notable characteristic was their historical rule over India for more than 800 years. Additionally, they occupied certain regions in India where they constituted a numerical majority. Consequently, any group possessing these two characteristics might not be deemed a minority.

The Muslims of India aspired to reclaim their former eminence, and it’s important to recognize that the Pakistan Movement was fueled by these twin desires of the Muslim populace.

The yearning to regain past glory served as a driving force behind the Pakistan Movement.

The Muslims of India endeavored to unite with Hindus, seeking to wage a joint struggle against British imperialist power.

History provides evidence of these desires among Muslims.

The War of Independence in 1857 stands as a testament to the unity between Muslims and Hindus in their collective fight against British imperialism.

Unfortunately, the war concluded in defeat for the natives and victory for British imperialistic power.

The period following the 1857 War of Independence was a dark age for Muslims.

The British imperialistic power unleashed a reign of terror against Muslims, attributing them responsibility for the War of Independence, which the Britishers labeled as a mutiny or revolt.

During those challenging times, Hindus and Muslims found themselves on different paths, with some Hindus aligning themselves with the British in a friendly gesture, leading to various political and economic concessions for their community.

Despite this, Muslims did not lose hope for a joint struggle against British imperialism, and a pivotal moment in Indian history was marked by the Lucknow Pact of 1916, where Muslims and Hindus came together in agreement.

Dr Islam further highlighted the significant role played by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in brokering this historic agreement.

This pact, witnessed by Hindu writers, symbolized a significant step towards Hindu-Muslim unity, leading to Jinnah being honored with the title of Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity in remembrance of his efforts.

During the tumultuous period marked by the outbreak of World War I and the subsequent Khilafat Movement, the Lucknow Pact failed to make significant progress.

Additionally, the Simonds Commission, tasked with proposing a constitution for India, encountered challenges due to the divergent interests of Muslims and Hindus.

The Nehru Report of 1928, representing Hindu interests, was perceived as detrimental to Muslim interests, prompting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to present his 14-Points Formula in response.

However, despite Jinnah’s efforts, the Indian National Congress (INC) persisted with policies perceived as anti-Muslim during the Roundtable Conferences. Matters escalated with the Congress forming governments in several Indian provinces following the 1937 elections, which were viewed as unfavorable to Muslims.

This led Jinnah to assert a clear separation between Muslims and Hindus, culminating in the Lahore Resolution of March 1940.

The Lahore Resolution, adopted during the All India Public Meeting, rejected the India Government Act of 1935.

Muslims saw this act as obstructing their constitutional, political, and economic rights. Thus, rejecting the Act of 1935 became a crucial aspect of the Lahore Resolution, reflecting Muslim discontent and the call for safeguards for their rights.

The second point of the Lahore Resolution holds significant historical importance, particularly for those familiar with the freedom movement’s history.

The leadership of the All India Muslim League at that time strongly advocated for areas where Muslims constituted a majority population.

These areas included the North-Western region (modern-day Pakistan) and the North-Eastern zone (modern-day Bangladesh) within the British Indian setup.

The resolution emphasized the necessity for organizing and restructuring these regions into federating units where Muslims could enjoy their rightful religious, political, social, and economic freedoms.

Following the Lahore Resolution, Quaid-e-Azam altered his previous stance of seeking unity with the Hindu community, signaling a departure from the idea.

The resolution essentially laid out a blueprint for regional autonomy, a principle that remains relevant even today.

According to Professor Islam, the spirit of the Lahore Resolution could be applied to contemporary Pakistan by granting autonomy to its federating units.

This could be achieved by adhering to the principles outlined in the Constitution of 1973, both in its wording and its implementation.