Aims and Objectives of the Establishment of Pakistan- As Welfare State

Recap of the 2nd lecture: What is Nationalism? Evolution of Two Nation Theory Difference between Hindus and Muslims Hindu Nationalism Their was an unbridgeable gulf between the Hindus and

the Muslims the two communities were distinct from each other ideologically, culturally, politically, socially and economically.

What is the concept of welfare state?

Definitions:A welfare state is a system of government run

organizations that helps everyone to have a good quality of life.

A welfare state is a government that provides for the prosperity or the wellbeing of the citizens completely.

It is a state in which the government assumes responsibility for minimum standards of living for every citizen.

cont.The term welfare state, usually refers to an ideal

model of provision, where the state accepts responsibility for the facility of comprehensive and universal welfare for its citizens.

A welfare state is a government that involved in citizens’ lives at every level. It provides for physical, material, and social needs rather than the people providing for their own.

History of the concept of Welfare State

Started from the First Islamic State of Medina in 622 A.D. The concept of welfare and support to the needy was introduced in early Islamic law as forms of Zakat (charity), one of the five Pillars of Islam.

Continued, developed and more refined during Pious Caliphate in the 8th century. The taxes (including Zakat and Jizya) collected in the treasury of an Islamic government were used to provide income for the needy, including the poor, elderly, orphans, widows, and the disabled.

cont.According to famous scholar Al-Ghazali 1058-

1111), the government was also expected to store up food supplies in every region in case a disaster or famine occurred.

Resolution of Welfare State

• The resolution of the welfare state is to generate economic and social equality.

• To assure reasonable standards of living for all, access to justice, freedom of faith, freedom of speech and transparency in decisions of executive.

• The welfare state is responsible to provides education, housing, rations, healthcare, pensions, unemployment insurance, sick leave or time off due to injury, health facilities , and equal opportunities for employment.

cont.

• It is also delivers public transportation, childcare, social wellbeing such as public parks and libraries, as well as many other services.

• An ideal welfare state is responsible for human rights such as rights of non Muslims, rights of women, rights of equal opportunities for earning and work, rights of expression and speech etc

Quaid e Azam and the concept of welfare state

“ It is not our purpose to make the rich richer and to accelerate the process of accumulation in the hands of few individuals. We should aim at leveling up the general standard of living amongst the masses, our ideal should not be capitalistic but Islamic and the interests and welfare of the people as a whole should be kept constantly in mind.”

cont.• Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted

Pakistan to be a welfare state where there was justice, equality and fair play.

• In his July 1, 1948 State Bank Address he set a clear direction on the future economy of Pakistan. He said that “we must evolve banking practices compatible with Islamic ideas of social and economic life.”

Cont.

• Quaid-e-Azam wanted Pakistan to be a welfare state. On March 12,1949, the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan adopted Objective Resolution, which contained principles for framing of the Constitution based on Islamic principles including welfare state.

• “Pakistan should not blindly follow Western economic theory and practice and should develop its own economic system based on true Islamic concept of equality of manhood and social justice.”

Cont.• Outlining the purpose of the creation of Pakistan the

Quaid said in a speech to the officers of the Defense Services on 11th October 1947, that:

“ The establishment of Pakistan was only a means to an end and not an end in itself. The idea was that we should have a state in which we could live and breathe as free men and which we could develop according to our own lights and culture and where principals of Islamic social justice could find free play.”

Cont.• Discussing the aims and objects of creation of

Pakistan, in a message to the Frontier Muslim Students Federation dated June 1945, the Quaid declared:

“Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslim ideology which has to be preserved which has come to us as precious gift treasure and which we hope others will share with us.”

Cont.

• In his presidential address at the Special Pakistan session of the Punjab Muslim Students Federation on 2nd March 1941, the Quaid said:

“We are a nation. And a nation must have a territory. What is the use of merely saying that we are a nation? Nation does not live in the air. It lives on the land, it must govern land, and it must have territorial state and that is what you want to get.”

Cont.• Discussing the philosophical difference between Islam and

Hindustan the Quaid-i-Azam declared at the All India Muslim League Lahore Session on 23rd March, 1940:

It is extremely difficult to appreciate why our Hindu friends fail to understand the real nature of Islam and Hinduism. They are not religions in the strict sense of the word, but are, in fact, different and distinct social orders, and it is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality,

Cont.

• and this misconception of one Indian nation has gone far beyond the limits and is the cause of most of your troubles and will lead India to destruction if we fail to revise our notions in time. The Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs, and literatures.

Cont.• The Quaid further explained:

“They neither intermarry nor interline together and, indeed they belong to two different civilizations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions. Their concepts on life and of life are different. It is quite clear the Hindus and Mussalmans derive their inspiration from different sources of history.”

Cont.

• They have different epics, different heroes, and different episodes. Very often the hero of one is foe of the other and, likewise, their victories and defeats overlap. To yoke together two such nations under a single state, one as a numerical minority and the other as a majority, must lead to growing discontent and final destruction of any fabric that may be built up for the government of such a state.

Cont.

• Infect the Quaid’s concept of Pakistan was that it would be an Islamic Welfare State where no one would be exploited. Also in the Islamic Welfare State it is the duty of the state to see that there is no one without food and clothes and every individual is at least provided with basic necessities of life.

• Now look at this list of Islamic state’s welfare responsibilities

Islamic state’s welfare Responsibilities • Food, Health, Shelter & Security :

As per the Qur'anic teachings the Islamic state should guarantee equal rights and provision of basic necessities to all ethnic, regional, cultural, tribal and religious groups.

Cont.• Education:• The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“One who treads a path in search of knowledge has his path to Paradise made easy by God…” –

(ref. Riyadh-us-Saleheen,245)

• So Provision of education is the responsibility of Islamic state

Cont.• Gender Equality• Freedom of Thought & Expression• Protection of Religious Sentiments • Equality Before Law:

The Prophet says that, the life and blood of Muslims are equally precious.

(ref. Abu Dawud; Ibn Majjah).

Cont.• Rights of Non Muslims:

Islam has also laid down rights for non-Muslims who may be living within the boundaries of an Islamic state.• So the Holy Qur’an has referred to the basic human

needs in these words : “There is therein (enough provision) for thee not to go hungry nor to go naked; nor to suffer from thirst, nor from the sun’s heat”

(ref. Al- Quran 20 : 118-119)

Cont.• The Right to Basic Necessities of Life:

“The government is the guardian of anyone who has no other guardian. -(Abu Daud, Tirmizi) • The above mentioned saying of Prophet Muhammad

(PBUH) establish beyond any doubt that the responsibility of providing basic needs to its citizens lies on the Islamic state. In this matter, Islam has made no distinction between the Muslims and non-Muslims

Cont.• Currently Pakistan does not resemble with the ideal

Islamic Welfare State which the Quaid had envisioned and would have tried to exercise had he lived longer.

• Be responsible, now its our duty to develop Pakistan as welfare state.

recap of the lecture

• What is the concept of welfare state History of Welfare State ?

• History of the concept of Welfare State • Resolution of the Welfare State • Quaid e Azam and the concept of welfare state• Islamic state’s welfare responsibilities• Conclusion

Conclusion

• A Dutch proverb says:

“Money is lost nothing is lost;

Courage is lost much is lost;

Honour is lost most is lost;

Soul is lost all is lost.”

Thank you