The country is poised to observe the 149th birth anniversary of its founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on Thursday with activities centred on a renewed commitment to his guiding principles of faith, unity, and discipline. The day has been declared a public holiday.
The day is set to commence at dawn with gun salutes in the federal and provincial capitals, according to an official report today. Following the Fajr prayer, special congregations will be held in mosques to offer prayers for the departed soul of the “Father of the Nation”, and for the peace, prosperity, and development of the country.
In a display of national reverence, the national flag will be hoisted atop all public and private buildings throughout the day. A focal point of the commemorations will be at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi, where a formal change of guards ceremony and a Qur”an Khawani will take place.
Born in Karachi on this day in 1876, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a lawyer and politician, spearheaded the Pakistan movement. He led the All-India Muslim League from 1913, a role that culminated in the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub-continent in 1947.
His political acumen is noted for having successfully navigated complex negotiations with British representatives, including Viceroys and Lords, as well as with leaders of the Indian National Congress such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, ultimately securing the partition of British India.
Following independence, he served as Pakistan”s first Governor General until his death on September 11, 1948.
To mark the occasion, a variety of events, including seminars, debates, and exhibitions, have been organised at both official and civil society levels to illuminate different aspects of the Quaid-e-Azam”s life, achievements, and personality.
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan has also prepared a series of special programmes, discussions, interviews, and reports to highlight the various phases of the independence struggle and the pivotal leadership role played by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.