Pakistan Movement Historic Documents G. Allana

Abstract

About two years ago I began my work on the biography of Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Father of our Nation. I looked around for books on our struggle for freedom, particularly old ones, which are now out of print, in order to make my book as comprehensive as possible. Recent books were available in our libraries, and they presented no problem. This search was rewarding, as I was able to lay my hands on some very valuable books and documents, some of which are so rare that only one known copy exists in the world today. I was soon able to add to my* private library books on the subject matter of my study, and it is this collection that has been the basis of the present compilation. While going thrpugh these books, I was struck with the wealth of basic material on the political struggle of the Muslims of this sub-continent, which ultimately resulted in the establishment of Pakistan. I thought it may prove useful, if some of these documents could be preserved in one book. I was encouraged in this venture by some of my friends, who are connected with our Universities, as they believed it would prove to be a useful book. I owe them a debt of gratitude for all the encouragement I received from them. The word “Document" is comprehensive in its application and is used to denote a treaty; parliamentary proceedings; resolutions of parliaments and political parties; text of a speech; a political statement or writing; a sale, mortgage, or gift deed; a testament or a will; Governmental or administrative orders and appointments. It may even connote an old' crumpled up paper in a forgotten corner. While search fo r , documents is primarily a part of the work 6! a research student, circumstances that existed at the time and which were directly or indirectly responsible for a document to be written are mainly the concern of a historian. Without original documents, the work of a historian may well be hampered. It is with a view to make these easily available to persons interested in studying and understanding the history of the struggle for Pakistan that this book has been attempted. Historic documents are national treasures, as also a source of inspiration. To recall them from, time to time in school, college and public gatherings would help us to remember our past, and to spur us on in the present to greater dedication, with a view to lead our nation to a higher destiny in the future. To forget them would be to lose them, which Would be a national loss. This book is intended to inform the reader what its title implies; no more, no less. Selection of documents to be included in this book presented a difficult task. If the reader feels that a particular document should not have been excluded, the fault is entirely mine. Although the contents of this book do not exhaust the subject matter, yet they do certainly cover the field adequately. Some of them are undoubtedly milestones of “Pakistan Movement” . Their collection, I venture to hope, will supply a long felt want in our national literature. In the absence of authentic documents, mythical images get enshrined in the pages of history, and round them accumulate much fable and fiction, but little historical truth. Historic documents tabulated in this book in chronological order, it is' hoped, will enable the reader to visualise for himself the unfolding of the drama of political struggle that the Muslim Nation of this sub-continent waged for a century. On the surface there may appear to be no relationship that each event has with subsequent events, but deep down in their roots they all bear the stamp of a common origin. In conclusion, I wish to express my special thanks to Messrs. Ashiq Ali, A.Q. Lutfi, and Nasir Ahmed Khan for the, long hours of work they have devoted to type the manuscript, and to Pyarali G. Allana, M. A. Siddiqui and Sahar Ansari for their valuable assistance to me in my task.