The article discusses points put forth by senior journalist Hamid Mir. In a recent column written by GEO News anchor and senior journalist Hamid Mir, titled ‘جیسی قوم ویسے حکمران‘ (loosely translated as ‘like nation, like rulers’), he discusses various aspects of the current political scenario in Pakistan.
Mir, a famous anchor at GEO News, survived assassination attempts in 2012 and 2014. Additionally, he has faced several bans for his undaunted speeches against military institutions. He writes exclusive columns for Jang and other publications and recently wrote an article related to the attack on Jinnah House, also known as the Corps Commander House.
9 May Attack
The attack took place during a demonstration by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers following the arrest of Imran Khan. Khan was arrested on May 9th at the premises of the Islamabad High Court in relation to the Al Qadir Trust Case.
In the article, Hamid Mir discusses the current political scenario in Pakistan and highlights the absence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s teachings in today’s politics.
Mir also mentions how the residence of the Corps Commander Lahore was originally the home of Quaid-e-Azam also known as Jinnah House. The British army seized it before the formation of Pakistan, and unfortunately, it was never returned to Quaid-e-Azam even after the country’s creation. The military’s communication regarding this property is documented in the meticulously compiled “Jinnah Papers” by Dr. Zorar Hussain Zaidi.
Mir raises questions about the PDM government’s narrative setting against Imran Khan, which he describes as hypocritical. He condemns the attack on the residence of the Corps Commander Lahore but also highlights the hypocrisy of the current rulers who failed to question the status of Jinnah’s House, which was supposed to be turned into a national museum but instead was converted into a residence.
Historical Background of Jinnah House
The article then delves into the historical background of Jinnah House. Quaid-e-Azam purchased the house in 1944, but it was occupied by the British army in 1947, and despite legal action, it was not returned to him. After his death, it became the residence of the GOC of the 10th Division of the Pakistani Army, and Miss Fatima Jinnah had to pay rent. In 1959, during General Ayub Khan’s era, it was designated as the residence of the Corps Commander Lahore.
The article also discusses the contradiction between the government’s decision to establish military courts and the teachings and principles advocated by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Jinnah emphasized the rule of law, personal freedoms, and freedom of the press, while the government’s actions seem to ignore these principles, as mentioned by Mir.
From Rowlatt Act to Army Act
Moreover, the article also mentions Jinnah’s opposition to the Rowlatt Act in 1919 and his resignation from the Legislative Assembly due to the act’s passage, which he denounced as tyrannical. Mir has compared the then Rowlatt Act initiated by General Ayub Khan in 1960 with the current implementation of the Army Act that opposes fair trials. The governments of Imran Khan and Shahbaz Sharif have used this oppressive law to arrest political opponents, which is seen as an insult to the founding father, put forward by Mir.
In conclusion, the article highlights how the teachings of the forefather of Pakistan have been maligned today for the political benefits. No party opposes what Jinnah once opposed.
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