As father of the nation and architect of Pakistan, the sayings of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah are of deep interest and can help us a lot in promoting and establishing democracy in our homeland. As the first governor general, he grappled with the varied problems which faced him, and untiringly attempted to solve them. About three years before the birth of Pakistan, he said: "It is the Muslims' demand for freedom because they in Pakistan want to be able to establish their own real democratic popular government. This government will have the sanction of the mass of the population of Pakistan and will function with will and sanction of the entire body of the people, irrespective caste, creed or colour." Speaking in the Legislative Council on an amendment bill, he said good government does not mean autocratic government; good government does not mean despotic government; good government means a government that is responsible to the representatives of people. When did we have a good government if we ever had? Speaking at a public meeting in March 1948: "Remember, it is in your hands to put the government in power or remove the government from power; but you must not do it by mob methods. You have the power, you must learn the art to use it; you must try and understand the machinery. Constitutionally, it is in your hands to upset one government and put another government in power if you are dissatisfied to such an extent. Therefore, the whole thing is in your hands." City elders say misfortunes may be the end-result of our or our so-called leaders' mistakes. Elders are right. Masses may not feel happy with the governance style which they say has not saved them from poverty, hunger and disease. "It is the real democracy that unites people and builds them into a nation with healthy economy and strong defence," elders assert. -- zasarwar@hotmail.com
