Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the founding leader and patron-in-chief of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, has felicitated the people of Pakistan on the 64th Independence Day. In his special message on the occasion, he paid glowing tribute to the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who valiantly led the freedom movement against the combined opposition of the ruling English and the Hindu. He said that the Independence Day afforded us an opportunity to look inward and undertake self-accountability whether we have achieved the aims and objectives for which Pakistan was created. He deplored the fact that our ruling elite whether in civvies or Khakies have been ruling this great nation like a personal fiefdom. Despite the passage of 63 years, we have not been able to determine the direction of the state.

Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the people of Pakistan, who were supposed to be real stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the state policy, remain marginalized and disempowered. He said that the Muslims of the sub-continent rendered huge sacrifices so that their welfare might be ensured in the newly created state. But this dream, he regretted, was frustrated due to monopolization of the power and decision-making structures by the vested interests.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, however, hoped that the day is not far when the people would translate their dream of Pakistan into reality. He said that the forces of extremism and terrorism emerged in the absence of strong Nationalism, which could unite diverse strands into a collective whole. He emphasized the need of reviving the Ideology of Pakistan and making it the pivot of public policy formulation processes to ward off all dangers to the state and society.

Meanwhile, Sahibzada Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri; president of the Supreme Council, Sahibzada Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri; president of the Federal Council of MQI, Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, Secretary General and Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, senior Deputy General have also felicitated the people of Pakistan on the 64th Independence Day of the country. In their separate messages on the occasion, they highlighted the need of reviving the Quaid’s slogan of ‘unity, faith and discipline’ to cater to the emerging challenges.