A Historical Connection via Defense Of Democracy
Jinnah's Ideals
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you in our midst as the first Ambassador of the United States of America. Though Pakistan is a new State, for well over a century now there have been many connections of trade and commerce between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States. This relationship was strengthened and made more direct and intimate during two World Wars and more particularly and more recently during the Second World War when our two-people stood shoulder to shoulder in defence of democracy.”
- Mr. Jinnah / Quaid-e-Azam
- Speech: Pakistan and USA / Equal Partners in Defence of Democracy
- Context: Reply to the speech made by the first Ambassador of the United States of America at the time of presenting Credentials to the Quaid-i-Azam, on 26th February 1948
Deeper reflections
America is a vision of extraordinary originality and allure. In America a new nation arose affirming freedom of belief, expression, and action as the essence of its national experience and character.
America’s domestic principles are self-evidently universal and shared by Islamic culture and ethos. The democratic principles of equality, self-governance, freedom and justice are truly universal principles that find their origins in many cultures and civilizations.
Pakistan has always stood shoulder to shoulder with America in defense of democracy in all major wars and American ideals are intertwined with Pakistan’s history. Mr. Jinnah stated that “The historic fight, for self-government by your people [Americans] and its achievement by them, the consistent teaching and practice of democracy in your country had for generations acted as a beacon light and had in no small measure served to give inspiration to nations who like us were striving for independence and freedom from the shackles of foreign rule.”
The application of democratic principles are at all times salutary not because they are American or Islamic but, for all good habits in thought or conduct there are good and real reasons in the nature of things. Most excellences in human character have a spontaneous root in our nature.
The openness of American culture and its democratic principles makes the United States a model and a refuge for millions. America provides a home to many nationalities, races, ethnicities, religions and people from all backgrounds. Within America this should always be considered a national strength because it validates the American aspiration of acting on behalf of humanity. As Mr. Jefferson wrote during his presidency, “We feel that we are acting under obligations not confined to the limits of our own society. It is impossible not to be sensible that we are acting for all mankind; that circumstances denied to others, but indulged to us, have imposed on us the duty of proving what is the degree of freedom and self-government in which a society may venture to leave its individual members.”
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Mr. Jinnah expressed his commitment to global peace, “I can assure your Excellency [American Ambassador] that after having emerged from an eclipse [reference to British colonization] which lasted over a century and a half, the people of Pakistan desire nothing which is not their own, nothing more than the goodwill and friendship of all the free nations of the world. We in Pakistan are determined that having won our long-lost freedom we will work to the utmost limit of our capacity not only to build up a strong and happy state of our own but to contribute in the fullest possible measure to international peace and prosperity.”
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Pakistan is a young state and desires goodwill from all free nations of the world in its struggle to strengthen its democracy. The Citizens of Pakistan recognize that the best defense of democracy is its true adoption. At the same time, we’re conscious that just throwing the control of social organization into the hands of numerical majorities does not ensure national progress. The true intent behind democratic ideals is to carve out the greatest possible scope for individual initiative.
Voting
A foundational way to safeguard free individual initiative is to guarantee the strength of an individual's vote. Participation in civic activity, even in the simplest form of voting, is an elevating and instructing agency. The election infrastructure ought to be re-designed to ensure ease of voting, transparency and accuracy in vote counting and election results.
Pakistan aspires to be an early adopter in applying and piloting new technologies to its voting systems. Pakistan should double-down on tech-solutions to its election impartiality challenges. Innovating the election system is of high strategic importance for Pakistan because its current glaring inefficiencies have always invited naked exploitation from all stakeholders involved.
Individual Freedom
The people of Pakistan plan to radically expand the freedom of expression and intellectual individualism in our national culture. Islamic tradition of Fikr vindicates the cause of intellectual freedom.
Individual freedom itself will have to be organized further, its bounds made vaster and its powers of self-preservation strengthened and increased in Pakistan. Freedom, justice, right, and public law ought to be protected, preserved and progressed by the Government of Pakistan.
The Role of the Government
The Government is an instrument to serve the people. The primary metric against which any Government ought to be measured is the prosperity of its people in terms of economic, social, educational and political uplift.
Economic Progress
We have come to a clear realization that greatest possible scope of individual initiative cannot be achieved without providing avenues to the individual for economic progress. Citizens need to be enabled to operate as drivers of economic progress by providing nation-wide vocational training fit for the digital age. We must provide qualified citizens access to capital to launch new businesses to unleash entrepreneurship.
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Trade and Commerce
Pakistan aspires to establish stronger economic ties with the United States focused on innovation. The citizens of Pakistan recognize that creating new markets via innovation is an enduring way to solve large-scale problems, ignite our economic engine, create jobs, pull in infrastructure and institutions, and serve as a strong foundation and catalyst for future growth.
Relations beyond commerce & war
The relationship between Pakistan and the United States will expand to cross-cultural initiatives, with deeper integration across film and music, such as few below:
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“I am glad to learn that your Excellency (American Ambassador) and the great country and people you represent, will give your cooperation to us to advance our economic and cultural relations for the mutual benefit of both the countries. I am hopeful that good relations and friendship already existing between the peoples of America and Pakistan will be further strengthened and the bonds of friendship between our two countries will be more firmly riveted. Your excellency, I assure you that my Government and I will do all that lies in our power to give you every assistance in the fulfillment of what is our common desire and objective. I once more extend to Your Excellency a warm welcome to Pakistan as the first Ambassador of the United States of America.”
- Mr. Jinnah
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