An fascinating miscellany of stories

By Syed Afsar Sajid

Title: ‘Pakistan’

Compiler: Muhammad Saeed

Writer: OUP, Karachi

Pages: 564 – Worth: Rs. 2500/-

Muhammad Saeed is a veteran bureaucrat who retired as Chief Customs, FBR, Karachi. Related to many an financial challenge of world significance just like the EU Wants Evaluation Undertaking, Islamabad, USAID Commerce Undertaking, Islamabad, and the ADB Commerce and Transport Undertaking, he additionally edited and revealed the fortnightly ‘The World Commerce Evaluate’, Islamabad.

The aforementioned ebook (‘Pakistan’) is a compendium of stories, views, and adverts that appeared in 4 English dailies viz. The Pakistan Instances, Lahore, the Each day Gazette, Karachi, The Civil & Army Gazette, Lahore, and the Each day Daybreak, Karachi in the course of the interval from Aug 1, 1947 to Dec 31, 1947. The realized compiler claims to have dug out these papers from the Nationwide Archives within the 12 months 2014 with a view to finding out the collective considering of the political leaders, native populace and the migrants/displaced individuals on each side of the border of the 2 newly-emerging dominions of India and Pakistan throughout the orbit of the British Commonwealth. No Urdu newspaper overlaying the 12 months 1947 was accessible in these archives.

The ebook regardless of its large quantity, is a crisp learn. It is sort of a chronicle incorporating an unlimited however various knowledge of info and figures pertaining to the incipient historical past of the Indian Sub-continent present process an unprecedented demographic, as additionally geographic, turmoil and turbulence involving mammoth internecine bloodshed and carnage, at and across the time of Partition. A cursory although selective survey of the contents of the ebook, in a chronological order, would significantly curiosity the frequent reader in addition to the connoisseur.

1-8-47 to 15-8-47: Maj. Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, MLA, Member All India Muslim League Council was gunned down by a police constable close to Chowburji, Lahore. Lecturers in numerous topics needed in Zamindara School, Gujrat @ Rs.150/- pm. Viceroy Home, Delhi has introduced the appointment of the three companies chiefs for every dominion individually. Gold charge in Karachi swung between Rs.108/13/6 and Rs.108/11/- per tola.

The Pink Fort in Delhi tipped because the HQ of the Indian Military. The UN Safety Council appealed for a cease-fire in Indonesia. Gandhiji throughout his tour of Kashmir met the State premier twice. A 16-hour curfew was imposed in Lyallpur within the wake of communal violence in and out of doors the city. Curfew in Lahore prolonged till 15 th August. A public feast for 20,000 individuals to be hosted on 15 th August in Karachi to rejoice the independence day.

The Naga tribesmen in India demanded whole autonomy for themselves. The workplaces of the Pakistan authorities began functioning in Karachi. The governor-general-designate of Pakistan Mr. M. A. Jinnah was given a standing ovation by a thumping crowd of round 100,000 individuals on his arrival from Delhi, at Mauripur airport, Karachi the place prime minister–designate Liaquat Ali Khan and Space Commander Maj. Gen. Akbar Khan had been additionally current to greet him. He was accompanied by Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and his ADCs Lt. Ahsan and Flt. Lt. Rabbani. Gandhiji whereas in Lahore, expressed his want to stay in Pakistan for the remainder of his life.

13 individuals had been killed in Calcutta within the wake of the prevailing communal frenzy. Zahid Hussain, VC, Muslim College Aligarh appointed Excessive Commissioner of Pakistan to India. KLM to begin once-a-week flight between Karachi-New York by way of Amsterdam, in 45 hours. Liaquat Ali Khan moved a decision within the Constituent Meeting proposing the title of ‘Quaid-e-Azam’ for Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah w.e.f fifteenth August, 1947. Faiz Ahmad Faiz is the appearing editor of the every day The Pakistan Instances (value: two annas). Homicide and arson continued in Amritsar entailing a toll of a dozen harmless Muslims. Army pressure eradicated a gang of 61 armed rioters.

M/s Gandhi and Hussain Shaheed Suharwardy to launch a joint peace mission. US President Truman despatched a goodwill message to Quaid-e-Azam. Communal riots in Lahore inflicting 22 casualties. PBS to take over the administration of Lahore, Peshawar and Dacca (Dhaka) radio stations. Quaid-e-Azam took the oath of allegiance to the British monarch adopted by an oath of workplace of Governor Basic underneath the provisional structure of Pakistan.

16-8-47 to 31-12-47: Governor Basic Lord Mountbatten, Prime Minister Pandit Nehru and different cupboard members took oath of workplace in India. Zafarul Ahsan (ICS) appointed DC Lahore. The primary cupboard of Pakistan comprising PM Liaquat Ali Khan (Defence & International Affairs). I.I. Chundrigar (Commerce & Industies), Ghulam Muhammad (Finance), Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar (Communications), Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Agriculture & Well being), Jogindar Nath Mandal (Regulation & Labour), and Fazlur Rahman (Inside & Training), sworn in.

Junagarh State introduced accession to Pakistan. The Boundary Fee award introduced. Disagreement amongst members of the Fee led Sir Radcliffe to pronounce his personal necessary suggestions on the mechanics of bodily partitioning of India. The price range deficit of India shot as much as Rs.29 crore. Nizam of Hyderabad (India) introduced an impartial standing for his State. Governor NWFP Sir George Cunningham dismissed Dr. Khan Sahib’s provincial authorities, inviting ML chief Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan to type a brand new authorities.

An 18-hour curfew imposed in Lyallpur. Gandhiji referred to as off his starvation strike in Calcutta. In accordance with Sri Prakasa, Indian Excessive Commissioner to Pakistan, round 200,000 individuals had been killed on each side of Punjab, within the Partition riots. As a sequel to the Partition, some 10 lac individuals from the 4 districts of West Punjab viz. Montgomery, Lyallpur, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot left for India whereas 11 lac 70 thousand individuals changed them from India. Advert: An Opel Automotive 1938 mannequin, lately overhauled, supplied on the market for Rs.5,000/-.

GM Syed appealed to Hindus to not abandon their fireside and residential emigrate to India. Cricketer Fazal Mahmud declined to affix the Indian cricket staff shortly touring Britain, rather than his dwelling staff. Amritsar obtained an unprecedented 27-hour incessant downpour.

Pakistani authorities dispelled the impression that solely Muslims had been eligible for presidency jobs. 1,000 individuals drowned in excessive floods in rivers Ravi, Sutlej and Bias. FM Sir Claude Auchinleck, Supreme Commander India and Pakistan (1947-48) visited Karachi on official enterprise. 50,000 Muslim refugees entered Pakistan from Amritsar by way of Wagah. Freedom fanatic Iqbal Shedai (1888-1974) returning to Karachi in October 1947, ending a 27-year lengthy self-exile. Khairpur State signed the instrument of merger with Pakistan.

Finance Minister Ghulam Muhammad appealed to the Hindu inhabitants to not go away Pakistan. 90,000 Muslim refugees from Rohtak, Hisar, Gurgaon, and Patiala heading for Pakistan. Pakistani army authorities repatriated 57 non-Muslim feminine abductees to India, after restoration. The variety of central cupboard ministers to be elevated to 9. PCS (Government) examination to be held in March, 1948. Cotton value in West Punjab fastened at Rs.18 per maund.

The ebook must be broadly launched and circulated within the academia as it’s a retailer of invaluable info on the genesis and practicality of the concept of Pakistan.