QUAID-E-AZAM MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH

                   QUAID-E-AZAM MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH

Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born at Karachi on 25 December 1876. His father was a leading merchant of Karachi. He received  his primary education at Karachi and Bombay. He passed his matriculation examination from Mission High School, Bombay and went to England for studying law. He was called to the bar in 1896.

          He started his legal practice at Karachi in 1896. Next year he shifted to Bombay and in a short time and won great distinction as a barrister. From 1930 to 1934 he practiced in England at the Privy Council and established himself as a lawyer of the first order. On his return to India, he resumed practice at Bombay.

          In the meanwhile he had developed keen interest in politics when he was studying law in England. Therefore, he joined Indian National Congress to work fro the self-government for India. He became member of the All-India Muslim League also and retained membership of both the parties for a long time. Jinnah worked as a mediator between both the parties and tried to bring about understanding between the Muslims and the Hindus. In acknowledgement of his services and popularity the "Jinnah Hall" was built in Bombay.

                   When the Indian National Congress rejected the Montagu-Chelmsford Scheme of 1918 and launched a non-co-operation movement, Jinnah left the Congress. He did not agree with the non-co-operation movement because he considered it a departure from the policy of constitutional agitation. From this time onward he became the most determined critic and opponent of all the policies of Gandhi. He was convinced that the Hindus were pursing a deliberate policy. Hindu domination over the entire sub-continent of India.

                  As a result Muhammad Ali Jinnah soon became the voice of the Muslims of India. He formulated their demands and presented them in the form of the famous Fourteen Points in 1929. In 1934 he undertook the arduous work of  uniting the various Muslim groups under the banner of the Muslim League. He also re-organised the Muslim League to make it an active and united organization. Under his inspiring and able leadership the Muslim League contested elections in 1935 and swept the polls  in the Punjab, Sindh and Bengal.

        With the passage of time more and more Muslims were joining the Muslim League. Other Muslim parties in Bengal and Punjab accepted the leadership of Jinnah and also joined the League. In 1940 the Muslim League passed the famous Lahore Resolution demanding Pakistan-a sovereign Muslim State, comprising the Muslim majority areas of India.

              Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah showed great ability and tremendous courage in his struggle for Pakistan. He countered the shrewd mo
ves of the Congress and was able to change the view of the British Government. His lifelong struggle was crowned with success on 14th August 1947, when Pakistan came into being.

                      The Quaid became the first Governor-General of Pakistan. He worked day and night for the consolidation and progress of the country. His health had been failing for many years. Now the great responsibilities  of the state wrecked his health, and he passed away on september 11,1948.