LAHORE
Architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme Dr A.Q. Khan has said people have just read about Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah but he had seen him with his own eyes and found him a great and visionary leader.
“Hindus are a cunning and culprit nation; they've always hatched conspiracies against Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah. ''God forbid if Quaid-e-Azam had passed away before Pakistan came into being, it would not have appeared as a reality on the map of the world.”
According to a press release, Dr A Q Khan said this while delivering a lecture organised by Jinnah Forum at University of Management and Technology (UMT) on Saturday. A good number of students, faculty members and guests attended the event.
Dr A Q Khan further said Quaid-e-Azam was a man of strong willpower and commitment who practised what he preached and inspired a nation. Lord Mountbatten admitted that Jinnah was neither purchasable nor made to be distracted by moving forward to achieving his objectives and never compromised on his principles, he added. He said Quaid-e- Azam possessed very good qualities of nobleness, greatness, truthfulness, honesty and impartiality that distinguished him from his contemporary leaders and he stood tall among all of them; fulfilled the promise of establishing a separate homeland for his nation and made a history.
Dr A Q Khan said when in 1974, India tested nuclear weapons, a prompt response from Pakistan was necessary and if we had not responded to its aggression, it had regained control of us and today Lahore has been made the capital of Sikh community. Recalling his meeting with the then premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Dr A Q Khan said if Bhutto had not asked him to return from overseas, Pakistan wouldn't have been a nuclear power till the Day of Judgment.
Dr A Q Khan advised the students to take interest in their studies and be committed to their goals, say five times prayers, respect teachers and parents, become responsible citizens, recite the Holy Qur'an and ponder over its verses.
UMT Rector Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad said the foundation of Jinnah Forum at UMT was aimed at connecting the new generation with the history and ideology of Pakistan making them aware of their responsibilities as citizens and that how could they play their fundamental role in the development of the country. He, while quoting his father (late) Khurram Murad, said the establishment of Pakistan as a new state was the most important and historical event of the 20th century that would leave an impact on the entire history of the Muslim World in the days to come.
Paying tribute to the Father of the Nation, Dr Murad said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a charismatic leader who was more than a man of logic, wisdom and a man of reasoning who made use of intellectual capabilities in the best possible way and succeeded in laying down the foundation of a separate country for us to live independently and practise our faith. He said decency, elegance andsuperiority were the qualities that distinguished Quaid-e- Azam from his counterparts. He emphasised the students to develop critical skills and think deeply and positively for the wellbeing of Pakistan and for the entire humanity.
He said Dr A Q Khan gave nuclear technology to Pakistan and made it unconquerable and unbeatable so it was our responsibility to preserve its identity and sovereignty.
Dr Murad also announced that UMT was working on Pakistan’s very first encyclopedia to be brought out soon by UMT Press that would be a positive academic contribution to the history of Pakistan.
The programme was also addressed by noted journalist Salman Ghani who emphasised the unity of the nation irrespective of race and nationalism.