Muhammad Ali Jinnah`s 11th August speech is one of the most famous speeches made by Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founding father of Pakistan and known as the Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader). Today , there is hardly a more contentious issue in Pakistan than the issue of Jinnah `s vision. While Pakistan was created as a result of what could be described as Indian Muslim nationalism ` Jinnah was widely held as a secular liberal barrister who had once championed the cause of Hindu-Muslim Unity and a United India. When the partition of India finally occurred , Jinnah , soon-to-be Governor General of the Dominion of Pakistan , gave expression to his vision of Pakistan in an address to the constituent Assembly on August 11 , 1947 . He spoke of an inclusive and impartial government , religious Freedom, rule of Law and equality for All . He also seemed to advocate the separation of the Church and the State.
Mr President , Ladies and Gentlemen !
"I cordially thank you , With the utmost sincerity , for the hon-our you have conferred upon me --the greatest hon-our that is possible to confer-- by electing me is your first President . I also thank those leaders who have spoken in appreciation of my services and their personal references to me. I Sincerely hope that with your support and your co-operation , we Shall make this constituent assembly in example to world . The constituent Assembly has got to main Functions to perform , the first is the very onerous and responsible task of framing the future constitution of Pakistan and the second of functioning as a full and Complete sovereign body as the Federal Legislature of Pakistan . We have to do the best we can in adopting provisional Constitution for the Federal Legislature of Pakistan . You know really that not only we ourselves are wondering but , i think , the whole world is Wondering at this unprecedented cyclonic revolution which has brought About the Plane of Creating and establishing two independent sovereign dominions in this sub-continent. As it is, it has been unprecedented; there is no parallel in the history of the world. This mighty sub-continent with all kinds of inhabitants has been brought under a plan which is titanic, unknown, unparalleled. And what is very important with regards to it is that have achieved it peacefully and by means of an evolution of the greatest possible character.
"Dealing with our first function in this assembly, I cannot make any well- considered pronouncement at this moment, but i shall say a few things as they occur to me. The first and the foremost thing that i would like to emphasize is this: remember that you are now a sovereign legislative body and you have got all the powers. It, therefore, places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decision. the first observation that i would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subject are fully protected by State.
"The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering --- I do not say that other countries are free from it, but, i think our condition is much worse---- is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand and i hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this Assembly to do so"
"The next thing that strikes me is this: here again it is a legacy which has been passed on to us. Along with many other things, good and bad, has arrived this great evil, the evil of nepotism and jobbery. I want to make it quite clear that i shall never tolerate any kind of jobbery, nepotism or any influence directly or indirectly brought to bear upon me.Whenever i will find that such a practice is in vogue or is continuing anywhere, low or high, i shall certainly not countenance it.
"I know there are people who do not quite agree with division of India and the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Much has been said against it, but now that it has been accepted, it is the duty of every one of us to loyally abide by it and honorably act according to the agreement which is now final and binding on all. But you must remember, as i have said, that this mighty revolution that has taken place is unprecedented. One can quite understand the felling that exists between the two communities wherever one community
is in majority and the other is in minority. But the question is, wherever it was possible or practicable to act otherwise than what has been done.
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