Khan in Karachi: an account of Pakistani rulers visits to Mazar-e-Quaid
PMs have shown reverence by visiting Mazar-e-Quaid but they could not act upon his principles.
(Web Desk) – Visiting the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah by the new head of state has been a custom especially after 1970. They visit and pledge to make Pakistan a prosperous social welfare state country. They talk to media and explore strategies they will be acting upon during their tenure. Following is the account of rulers’ visits to the mausoleum.
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On 20 December 1971, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took oath as president and Chief Martial Law Administrator of the country; he visited the mausoleum on January 1, 1972 and offered Fateha.
Photo: Twitter
Muhammad Khan Junejo took oath as Prime minister and visited Karachi on March 31, 1985. That was his first visit to the mausoleum.
Benazir Bhutto took oath of premiership on December 2, 1988 and visited the mausoleum after two days on December 4, 1988.
Mian Muhammad Nawaz when became Prime Minister of Pakistan took oath on November 6, 1990 and visited mausoleum on November 17.
On November 23, 2002 Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali took oath of prime-ministership and visited the mausoleum on December 11, 2002.
Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Chaudhry Shujaat took oath on June 30, 2004 and visited the mausoleum on July 6, 2004.
Shaukat Aziz took oath of premiership on August 28, 2004 and visited the mausoleum after 19 days on September 16, 2004.
Yousaf Raza Gillani of Pakistan Peoples’ Party took oath of head of state on March 25, 2008 and visited the mausoleum on April 4.
Raja Pervez Ashraf another leader of Pakistan Peoples’ Party June 22, 2002 and visited the mausoleum after two days on June 24, 2002.
Nawaz Sharif become prime minister for the third time on June 5, 2013 and this time he took time to visit but visited it after 57 days on August 1, 2013.
Now that change has come and PTI has formed federal government, Imran Khan became prime minister on August 18, 2018. He visited the mausoleum on September 16, 2018.
Photo: APP
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Although successive heads of state have shown reverence for the founder of Pakistan but by and large they remained botched in fulfilling his mission. For the very first time, millions of people especially the youth have attached hopes with Imran Khan, who claims to be the real representative of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, it is time to practically take actions to have Pakistan out of vicious circle and make it one envisioned by almost all the founding fathers, Islamic social welfare state.
Source Roznama Dunya
Edited and translated by Junaid Ali Malik
