Introduction
Punjab is the largest province of
Pakistan. Lahore is the capital of Punjab. Lahore is an historical city. Lahore
has always been the centre of political activity. So this province is called
elder brother. This province played an important role in the existence of
Pakistan.
Strong Support
for Pakistan
Punjab took active part in every
political or non-political activity. In the same way in Pakistan Movement,
Punjab played its important role.
Allam Iqbal
Allama Iqbal took part in practical
politics and created the wave of freedom in the Muslims. He was the member of
Provincial Council of Punjab. In 1930 he gave the sketch of separate homeland
for the Muslims in his Allahabad session. That is why he is called the Painter
of Pakistan. He gave very useful suggestions to Quaid-e-Azam and showed his
complete confidence in his leadership. Quaid also respected Allama Iqbal. He
said during Pakistan Movement, “If we succeeded in getting a separate homeland
for the Muslims and at one side I am given the president-ship and at other side
the books of Iqbal; I will select the books of Iqbal.” In 1931-1932 in London,
Iqbal joined Round Table Conference so that the political problems of sub
continent could be solved.
Maulana Zafer
Ali Khan
Zafar Ali Khan also belonged to
Punjab. He was a high rank generalist, national hero and a great poet.
“Zamindar” was his famouse newspaper in Urdu. He founded “Majlis-e-Ahrar”. This
party launched a movement against Kadiyanis. He stated the aims of Muslim
League well by his pen and tongue when he joined it. In 1936 elections, he was
elected as the Member of Assembly on Muslim League ticket and after this he
remained on the front in the struggle for independence.
Iqbal said
about Zafer Ali Khan:
“What work
Mustafa Kamal Ataturk did for Turkey by his sword, Zafer did the same work for
the Muslims by his pen.”
Chaudhry
Rehmat Ali
Chaudhry Rehmat Ali who suggested
this name for Pakistan in 1932 lived in Punjab. In those days he was studying
in London. He made Muslims emotional by his pamphlet, “Now or Never”. He
invented Pakistan by : P for Pakistan, A for Afghani, F for Frontier Province,
K for Kashmir, S for Sindh and Tan for Baluchistan.
Pakistan
Resolution
Muslim League slowly set its feet in
Punjab. In the beginning some local and provincial political parties opposed
Muslim League but later on, Muslim League became the most effective political
party of Punjab under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam. On 23rd March 1940, there
was held a meeting in Lahore in which Pakistan Resolution or Lahore Resolution
was passed in which Pakistan as a separate homeland for the Muslims was
demanded. Now-a-days Minar-e-Pakistan is standing at that place.
Lahore As the
Heart of Pakistan
Quaid-e-Azam rightly said “Lahore is
the heart of Pakistan.”
Effective
Pakistan Movement
Muslim League became the most active
emotional party in Punjab under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam. People from all
groups of Punjab joined Pakistan Movement.
Muslim League
in Punjab Assembly
Muslim League took part in 1945-46
elections on the basis of demand for Pakistan and won particular seats in the
central assembly for Punjab. In provincial elections, Muslim League won 75
seats out of 86. After this four other members joined Muslim League. So Muslim
League got 79 seats, in this way Muslim League became the biggest party in
Punjab. But the English governor of Punjab, instead of offering the Muslims
League to make government, offered the government to Congress and Unionists
party by conspiracy. Because of this, government did not have the support of
the people. Muslim League launched “No Confidence Movement” and as a result, it
had to resign soon.
Wrong Division
of Punjab
It was decided that the province of
Punjab should be divided between India and Pakistan. For this purpose an
English Judge Radcliff was appointed as president of Commission that by
conspiracy with Mountbatten and Congress gave most fertile areas of Muslim
majority to India and the population of those Muslim areas left their homes and
had to migrate to Pakistan.
Disturbances
and the Problem of Immigrants
When Hindus and Sikhs saw that
sub-continent is being divided against their interest they started disturbances
in some regions of Punjab in which thousands of Muslims were killed and
injured. In this play of fire and blood, the Muslims of Punjab proved very
courageous and welcomed the refugees coming from India and proved that the
Muslims are brothers of each other in the hour of need.
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