{EOP}A Picture Hidden From The World(MIND BLOWING PAKISTAN )

Mr. Jinnah’s presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
August 11, 1947
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I cordially thank you, with the utmost sincerity, for the honor you have conferred upon me – the greatest honor that is possible to confer – by electing me as your first President. I also thank those leaders who have spoken in appreciation of my services and their personal references to me. I sincerely hope that with your support and your co-operation we shall make this Constituent Assembly an example to the world.
The Constituent Assembly has got two main functions to perform.
The first is the very onerous and responsible task of framing the future constitution of Pakistan and the second of functioning as a full and complete sovereign body as the Federal Legislature of Pakistan.
We have to do the best we can in adopting a provisional constitution for the Federal Legislature of Pakistan. You know really that not only we ourselves are wondering but, I think, the whole world is wondering at this unprecedented cyclonic revolution which has brought about the clan of creating and establishing two independent sovereign Dominions in this sub-continent. As it is, it has been unprecedented; there is no parallel in the history of the world. This mighty sub-continent with all kinds of inhabitants has been brought under a plan which is titanic, unknown, unparalleled. And what is very important with regards to it is that we have achieved it peacefully and by means of an evolution of the greatest possible character.
Dealing with our first function in this Assembly, I cannot make any well-considered pronouncement at this moment, but I shall say a few things as they occur to me.
The first and the foremost thing that I would like to emphasize is this: remember that you are now a sovereign legislative body and you have got all the powers. It, therefore, places on you the gravest responsibility as to how you should take your decisions.
The first observation that I would like to make is this: You will no doubt agree with me that the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.
The second thing that occurs to me is this: One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering – I do not say that other countries are free from it, but, I think our condition is much worse – is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand and I hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this Assembly to do so.
Black-marketing is another curse. Well, I know that black marketeers are frequently caught and punished. Judicial sentences are passed or sometimes fines only are imposed. Now you have to tackle this monster, which today is a colossal crime against society, in our distressed conditions, when we constantly face shortage of food and other essential commodities of life.
A citizen who does black-marketing commits, I think, a greater crime than the biggest and most grievous of crimes. These black marketeers are really knowing, intelligent and ordinarily responsible people, and when they indulge in black-marketing, I think they ought to be very severely punished, because the entire system of control and regulation of foodstuffs and essential commodities, and cause wholesale starvation and want and even death.
The next thing that strikes me is this: Here again it is a legacy which has been passed on to us. Along with many other things, good and bad, has arrived this great evil, the evil of nepotism and jobbery. I want to make it quite clear that I shall never tolerate any kind of jobbery, nepotism or any any influence directly of indirectly brought to bear upon me. Whenever I will find that such a practice is in vogue or is continuing anywhere, low or high, I shall certainly not countenance it.
I know there are people who do not quite agree with the division of India and the partition of the Punjab and Bengal. Much has been said against it, but now that it has been accepted, it is the duty of everyone of us to loyally abide by it and honorably act according to the agreement which is now final and binding on all. But you must remember, as I have said, that this mighty revolution that has taken place is unprecedented. One can quite understand the feeling that exists between the two communities wherever one community is in majority and the other is in minority. But the question is, whether it was possible or practicable to act otherwise than what has been done. A division had to take place.
On both sides, in Hindustan and Pakistan, there are sections of people who may not agree with it, who may not like it, but in my judgment there was no other solution and I am sure future history will record is verdict in favor of it. And what is more, it will be proved by actual experience as we go on that was the only solution of India’s constitutional problem. Any idea of a united India could never have worked and in my judgment it would have led us to terrific disaster. Maybe that view is correct; maybe it is not; that remains to be seen.
All the same, in this division it was impossible to avoid the question of minorities being in one Dominion or the other. Now that was unavoidable. There is no other solution. Now what shall we do?
Now, if we want to make this great State of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor.
If you will work in co-operation, forgetting the past, burying the hatchet, you are bound to succeed. If you change your past and work together in a spirit that everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his colour, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges, and obligations, there will be on end to the progress you will make.
I cannot emphasize it too much. We should begin to work in that spirit and in course of time all these angularities of the majority and minority communities, the Hindu community and the Muslim community, because even as regards Muslims you have Pathans, Punjabis, Shias, Sunnis and so on, and among the Hindus you have Brahmins, Vashnavas, Khatris, also Bengalis, Madrasis and so on, will vanish.
Indeed if you ask me, this has been the biggest hindrance in the way of India to attain the freedom and independence and but for this we would have been free people long long ago. No power can hold another nation, and specially a nation of 400 million souls in subjection; nobody could have conquered you, and even if it had happened, nobody could have continued its hold on you for any length of time, but for this. Therefore, we must learn a lesson from this.
You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State. As you know, history shows that in England, conditions, some time ago, were much worse than those prevailing in India today. The Roman Catholics and the Protestants persecuted each other. Even now there are some States in existence where there are discriminations made and bars imposed against a particular class.
Thank God, we are not starting in those days. We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State. The people of England in course of time had to face the realities of the situation and had to discharge the responsibilities and burdens placed upon them by the government of their country and they went through that fire step by step.
Today, you might say with justice that Roman Catholics and Protestants do not exist; what exists now is that every man is a citizen, an equal citizen of Great Britain and they are all members of the Nation.
Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.
Well, gentlemen, I do not wish to take up any more of your time and thank you again for the honor you have done to me. I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fair play without any, as is put in the political language, prejudice or ill-will, in other words, partiality or favoritism. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest nations of the world.
I have received a message from the United States of America addressed to me. It reads:
I have the honor to communicate to you, in Your Excellency’s capacity as President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, the following message which I have just received from the Secretary of State of the United States:
On the occasion of of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly for Pakistan, I extend to you and to the members of the Assembly, the best wishes of the Government and the people of the United States for the successful conclusion of the great work you are about to undertake.
When you read this and look at today’s Pakistan, 60 years later, EVERYTHING that Jinnah warned us against is now in Pakistan…. and politicians use the great Quaid’s name to justify anything that they are doing.
Before you follow or elected anyone, make sure that they don’t have the qualities that Jinnah said would destroy Pakistan. We now need to work hard to TAKE BACK PAKISTAN to follow Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal and Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, and Liaquat Ali Khan’s vision of Pakistan, which has been polluted.
Sub Sey Pehlay Pakistan…. Us Sey Pehlay Pakistani!!

A Picture Hidden From The World

In the recent times due to rendezvous between political forces and media, an ugliest picture about my country has been portrayed in front of the world, a picture that holds no color or I am not wrong to say “It’s all black just black”. I’m struggling to unveil the true picture that hold millions of colors, so bright and so shiny that can dazzle one’s eyes. If you are son of a soil, and you love your country as much as I do then you will help me fight against those who are painting your land as a black corner of this world. “Spread the truth as much as you can, fight for the right”

Pakistan meaning the “The land of pure” where each day the sun rises with a new hope, with an enduring majesty as the rays of light flushing down towards the snowcapped peaks of Himalaya’s and Nanga Parbat. A land where love finds a meaning in the heart warming hospitability of people, a land where history and ancient civilization mystifies one’s heart, a land where spiritualism unveils its mystery at the shrines of Sufi Saints. This is the land I belong to, this is the land I’ll die for and this is the land that defines my identity.

The Invincible 167 Million : 6th largest Nation of the World

The invincible 167 million Pakistani’s progressing forward with  high hopes and a mission holding an unquenchable thirst to be the world leader’s soon. Despit the chaos, despite the ill spilled by the westeren media to demoralize the nation and to uproot the patriotism from the hearts and minds of people of this country, despite the foreign funded terrorists bombing hundreds of Pakistani’s each day painting the roads red with the blood of young children, women and men. Every drop of it shouts back loud ” You can never take us down, We’ll fight back till our last breath“. Reminding you this is the nation which has a 7th largest pool of scientists and Engineers in the World[1]. and the country that is ranked 9th in the world where English language is spoken and used as an official language [1].

Pakistan: World’s 9th Largest English Speaking Country | Photo by Sultan Dogar: Abbotabad Medical College

Pakistan: World 7th largest Pool of Scientists and Engineer | Photo : Moin Ali Nawazish making a World Record by passing 23 A level Exams

On May 28, 1998, Pakistan became the 7th nuclear power of the world giving a loud and clear message to the enemies that this nation is fully equipped and ready to defend it’s sovereignty. Pakistan has world 7th largest standing arm forces [1] well trained possessing state of the art technology.  Pakistan Air force (PAF) is the symbol of pride for the nation and a galaxy of highly trained professionals emerged in latest technological developments. The highly skilled PAF personals are renowned for their excellence and handling of aircraft and surely are the worst fear for the enemies.

Pakistan: 7th largest Standing Arm Force in the World

Air force :Air Commodore MM ALAM has a world record of shoting down 5 Indian planes in less than a Minute

Pakistan : The Roof Top of the World

Pakistan the land of grand mountain ranges, a land that holds 4 out of 14 most highest peaks in the world. K2 the second highest mountain in the world with all it’s grandeur symbolizing the pride and strength of the people of Pakistan.

Pakistan: K2 the 2nd highest mountain peak in the World
Hunza is said to be a place ” Where Time Stops and Fairy Treads“, Kalash and Chitral are the natural wonders of the world where poetic verses find their inspirations from the beauty and elegance of high peak mountains, lush green fields and the fragrant breeze singing across the poplar trees. Some of the places which are not highlighted by the media but still due to their magnitude find their places on the World record books are ; Aisa’s Highest Railway Station Kan Mehtarzai [2] that is located 2240 meters above sea level near Quetta.

Pakistan: Asia’s Highest Railway Station “Kan Mehtarzai “

Pakistan: Lalazar often termed as most beautiful place on earth

Pakistan: Nanga Parbat 9th Highest Peak in the World

What it would feel like to play a sport that is wild, challenging and manly at the top of the world surrounded by the drumbeats and the music of the reed instrument. Yes Shandur Polo tournament is played every year at World’s highest Polo ground at Shandur, Northern Pakistan.

Pakistan: Shundur Polo festival at the World’s highest Polo ground

Karakoram Highway : Eighth Wonder of the World

Karakoram Highway runs through the northern areas connecting Pakistan with China’s Xingjiang province is often described as ” Eighth Wonder of the World” due to the marvel of civil engineering as it has taken 15 years to complete by the Pakistan Army Engineers in collaboration with China. It’s been labeled as ” World’s highest paved international Road” under world’s toughest terrain

Pakistan: Karakoram Highway World’s highest paved international Road

World’s Largest Deep Sea Port : Gwader

“Gwa” means Air and “Dar” means door, and the word Gawadar means ” The door of the wind” is the world’s largest deep sea port lies in southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan. The design and construction of the port is carried out in collaboration with China and it has just started it’s operation.It’s going to emerge as a world’s biggest skyline due to it’s capacity and infrastructure of handling bulk carriers. It has been declared as a Duty Free Port and Free Economic Zone by the Pakistani government that has increased the commercial worth manifolds. It has an immense geostrategic importance as it is the entrance to the Persian Gulf and is considered to be a substitute of Dubai Port.

Gawader: World’s Largest Deep Sea Port

Khewra Mines : Second Largest Salt Mine in the World

Khewra Salt Mine located in Khewra, Jehlum Punjab, Pakistan is the second largest Salt Mine in the world and is considered to be the oldest in the subcontinent. It was said that discovery of Salt mines were not done by Alexander or his army but by their horses as they started licking the stones when they stopped here for rest. Thousand of visitors each year visit Khewra Salt mines and get fascinated by the nature’s miraclein the heart of mountains.

Khewra Salt Mine: Second Largest Salt Mine in the World

Haleji Lake : Asia’s largest Bird Sanctuary

Pakistan is a land of serene beauty , a country with diverse wild life , fresh water lakes, a 1046 km coast lines. Some of the most unique species of birds are found in northern Pakistan with awe-inspiring natural wonders like Lake Saiful Maluk, Lake Shandur, Dudipatsar Lake, kutwal lake, Zalzal lake and many more. But Haleji has it’s own significance as it is Asia’s largest waterfowl reserve. During winter thousands of birds of different species fly down to Haleji from Siberian colder areas

Pakistan: The heavenly Shandur Lake

Thar Desert : One amongst the largest deserts in the World

Thar is a arid region in the north western part of Indian subcontinent, it lies mostly in Indian state of Rajasthan but it covers eastern Sindh province and the southeastern portion of Pakistan’s Punjab province. It is amongst one of the largest desertsin the world rich multifaceted culture, heritage, traditions, folk tales, dances and music. The poetic expression of Kafi written by Sufi poets of Sindh resonates in the cold nights as the Thari musicians start singing them on sorrowing rhythmic beats. In the night the granules of the sand lit up like stars as the moonlight walks on them.

Pakistan: Tharparker

The land of oldest Civilization : Indus Valley and Mohenjo-Daro

Moenjodaro is the province of Sindh, Pakistan and archeology trace back it exitence 5000 years ago. It provides an earliest instance of exemplary form of town planning and community organization and  found to be as one of the oldest cities known today. It is said to be the pilgrimage of ancient ruins. The splendor of Indus Valley civilization spread over a thousand mile from the high peak snowy mountains of Kashmir to the glittering sand dunes facing the Arabian Sea. One of the oldest known civilization that flourished in the Indus river Basin embraced within its fold almost the entire country now known as Pakistan.

One of the oldest Civilization Known today

This is just an effort to provide a glimpse of blazzing glory of the culture, heritage, beauty within my country. In the next part of Amazing Pakistan I will try to cover the traditions, the culture and the city life that defines a spirit of being a Pakistani. All the facts given above have been checked and can be verified
Courtesy: Siyasat Aur Pakistan

KASHMIRIS WANTS TO GET RID FROM POOR INDIA

Robert Bradnock, BBC NEWS
A recent survey in Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir has produced “striking results”. The poll was conducted by Robert Bradnock – an associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank in London – and here he assesses the results.
Given the significance of the 63-year-old dispute over Kashmir – for India, for Pakistan and above all for Kashmiris – it is remarkable how few attempts there have been to test opinion in Kashmir itself about attitudes to key issues in the dispute.

Two polls in the last decade have sampled opinion in Indian Jammu and Kashmir. Opinion has also been explored outside Kashmir in the cities of India and Pakistan.
Yet the poll published on 26 May at Chatham House was the first ever to be taken on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).
It was urgently felt that the key results are striking.
Unemployment and other economic issues, for example, rank high across the whole of Pakistani held Kashmir and Indian held Jammu and Kashmir.
Indeed economic issues were among the few that united opinion in nearly all the sampled districts on both sides of the LoC.
The poll shows that there is more room than many had anticipated in Kashmiri opinion itself for negotiation.
At first glance economic problems seem to be the top priority in the minds of many Kashmiris, and more important than solving the dispute itself.
Yet when asked how important the dispute was to them personally, 80% overall said it was very important – 75% in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and 82% in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The search for a solution is thus urgently felt.
On many other issues, however, opinions were sharply divided, notably by geographical distribution.
The headline figures of 44% (in Pakistan-administered Kashmir) and 43% (in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir) opting for independence, for example, conceals wide regional disparities.
While in the predominantly Muslim Kashmir Valley in Indian-administered Kashmir, the proportion in favour of independence ranged from 74%-95%.
But in the four districts of the predominantly Hindu Jammu part of Indian-administered Kashmir, there was virtually no support for independence at all.
In response to the question “Will an end to militant violence help to end the conflict?” opinion ranged from 0% in Rajouri to 98% in Anantnag and Kathua, while in Pakistan-administered Kashmir it ranged from 27% in Kotli to 75% in Bagh.
Resolution
This was a professionally designed and implemented poll. I worked with Ipsos MORI (based in London) on the poll’s design.
FACTS Worldwide (Mumbai) and Aftab Associates Private Limited (Pakistan) used specially trained interviewers to carry out the face-to-face interviews in four languages.
Many Kashmiris – but not a majority – favour independence.
It was funded by a charitable organisation run by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Dr Gaddafi’s foundation had already been funding development projects among Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan and India, and in 2002 approached me at King’s College London to discuss issues surrounding the resolution of the dispute.
In line with his view that civil society has a vital role to play in resolving disputes worldwide, he sponsored the poll.
Engaging Kashmiri opinion emerged as one of the key features of the poll.
Three quarters of all Kashmiris – on both sides of the LoC – believe that all sides of Kashmiri opinion should be consulted in negotiations over the future of Kashmir.
An optimistic sign is the apparent sense of flexibility among many Kashmiris in seeking a solution.
Only 27% of all Kashmiris are in favour of the LoC in its present form (22% in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and 29% in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.)
All-or-nothing
In three districts in Kashmir valley support for the present LoC falls to 1%, while in Kargil it is 0%.
However, if the movement across the LoC were to be fully liberalised, support for keeping the LoC rises dramatically to 85% overall.
Even in the Kashmir valley it rises to over 80%, and in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to over 90%.
The Kashmir insurgency has raged for 20 years. It is perhaps the attitudes to the LoC that are most significant.
Both Pakistan and India have been very reluctant to consider openly any question that the LoC might be made permanent.
For Pakistan in particular the issue has been presented in all-or-nothing terms, and the possibility that the LoC might be made permanent has been taboo – as it is for some major Kashmiri groups.
Yet there are many signs that the LoC has become a de facto part of life, and for some a vital part of their security.
Indeed, only 8% said that they were not in favour of the LoC in any form.
As the poll showed, while 8% of the total population claimed to have friends or family on the other side, less than 1% had visited the other side of the LoC in the last five years.
In this light it is not surprising that in Poonch and Rajouri, two key border districts in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, more than 90% are in favour of keeping the LoC.
The conversion of the LoC to a “soft” border reportedly played a large part in the Musharraf government’s back channel talks with India.
The poll finding that across Kashmir around one quarter are strongly opposed to changing the LoC while a further half would accept it if it is liberalised gives a strong signal that this could be a fruitful area for further negotiation.
And the poll shows that there is more room than many had anticipated in Kashmiri opinion itself for negotiation.
The bigger question is whether the governments of India and Pakistan have the confidence, the power and the goodwill to meet the urgent aspirations of the Kashmiris for a peaceful and permanent settlement.

How Partition of India became Inevitable:

AUGUST 14, 2010 marks the sixty-third anniversary of Pakistan’s inception. The birth of an independent Muslim state from the womb of an undivided, colonial India eventually became the solution to the communal problem after prolonged negotiations involving the British government, the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League. One common allegation against Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, is that he in league with the British effectively blocked alternative solutions to the Hindu-Muslim problem. Is the allegation valid?

The communal problem in the British India centred on Muslims’ apprehension that in the absence of adequate constitutional safeguards, they would be overwhelmed by the majority Hindus politically and economically. It was that apprehension that translated initially into the demand for separate electorates (first proposed in 1906 and accepted in 1909 vide the Indian Councils Act) and subsequently into that for a separate Muslim state in the event of British withdrawal from India. The Congress most of the time would deny either that the communal problem existed or that it was serious enough to warrant even special safeguards for Muslims what to talk about a separate Muslim state. But in the end the party accepted the partition of India as a fait accompli.

Though the League first made the demand for a separate Muslim homeland in March 1940 vide the Lahore Resolution, as late as 1946, one year before the creation of Pakistan, it was willing to consider alternative options. A look at the Cabinet Mission Plan confirms this.

Presented in May 1946, the Plan was a watershed in the history of the subcontinent as it embodied the final attempt by the British for a united India. Its failure made the bifurcation of the country inevitable. The Plan was presented by the British government in an attempt to resolve the politico-constitutional problem of India. The Congress and the League were offering different solutions to the country’s problems. Whereas the Congress stood for a free, united India, the League wanted a separate state for Muslims. “Quit India” and “Divide and quit” sum up the stance of the Congress and the League respectively.

The Plan sought to strike a compromise between those two positions and proposed a loose federation to be called the Union of India. The Union or central government would control only three departments: foreign affairs, defence and communications. The Union would consist of three units or groups. Group A would comprise Hindu majority provinces; Group B would consist of western Muslim majority provinces; and Group C would be made up of eastern Muslim majority provinces. Residuary powers would be vested in the provinces. The Plan provided that any province could call for reconsideration of the proposed constitution after 10 years.

Thus the Plan sought to divide India into autonomous regions on the basis of religion and authorised each unit to quit the federation after a specific period. The Plan ruled out the demand for Pakistan for being not practicable, as it saw no justification for including non-Muslim majority regions of Punjab and Bengal in Pakistan. And in case those regions were not included in Pakistan, the proposed Muslim state would be too small and weak to remain independent. But despite this Jinnah and the League accepted the Plan and they did that for at least three reasons.

In the first place, when the Plan was presented to the Congress, it tried to get the Mission’s assurance that in the event the Congress accepted the Plan while the League rejected it, power would be transferred to the former. The Mission gave the assurance. As the Plan fell short of Muslim demand for a separate state, the Congress was certain the League would reject it, thus prompting the British to hand over power to the Congress. Already 1937-39 Congress provincial governments had given Muslims a taste of Hindu rule. Jinnah did not want that and thus decided that the League should accept the constitutional scheme.

In the second place, the Congress had unleashed the propaganda that the partition of India was a British scheme and that Jinnah and the League were merely a tool to execute the same. The Congress would also accuse Jinnah of obstructing the independence of India by pressing for the partition. Jinnah wanted to refute these allegations and tell his critics that he was as keen for independence from British imperialism and a settlement of the Hindu-Muslim problem as Gandhi, Nehru or Azad were.

The third reason for Jinnah to accept the Plan was that he saw in it seeds for Pakistan. The proposed units, two of which were to comprise Muslim majority provinces, were to be given full autonomy. Moreover, each region after 10 year could opt out of the federation and proclaim independence. And the units were to be created on the basis of religion — the same basis on which the demand for Pakistan rested.

The League’ acceptance of the Plan took the Congress by surprise. The party hardly believed that Jinnah would accept the Plan thus prompting the British to transfer it the power. However, Jinnah’s astute move threw cold water on their plans. Now the ball was in their court. But a weak centre and strong units were not acceptable to the Congress. What the party wanted was a strong centre and weak units as demanded by the Nehru Report of 1930. This is also true of the constitution of the independent India, which is federal in form but unitary in spirit and which is one of few federal constitutions in the world that vest residuary powers in the central government.

Congress leadership therefore started putting its own interpretations of the Plan, which were completely at variance with its spirit. Jawaharlal Nehru, for instance, maintained that the groupings as provided in the Plan were not compulsory and vowed to establish a strong centre at the expense of provincial autonomy. His views were so unwarranted that Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the Mission, had to say: “I do not know myself how such a thing would be possible, but if anything of that kind were to be attempted, it would be a clear breach of the basic understanding of the Plan.” Interestingly, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who at that time happened to be the Congress president, was in favour of accepting the Plan in letter and spirit, because he believed it provided adequate constitutional safeguards for Muslims without conceding their demand for a separate state. However, he failed to get the support of his critical colleagues.

The Plan had two parts: the constitutional scheme outlined in the preceding paragraphs and the provisions relating to the instalment of an interim government until a new constitution was drawn up. The Congress accepted the constitutional scheme but only with its own interpretation of the compulsory grouping clause, which, as already mentioned, was a clear departure from the very spirit of the Plan. The party also initially refused to join the proposed interim government. The reason for the refusal was the viceroy’s acceptance of the League’s claim that it alone had the right to nominate all the Muslims in the interim administration.

The Congress’ refusal to join the interim set-up meant that power should be transferred to the League, which had conceded to the Plan totally. However, the viceroy was reluctant to exclude the Congress, India’s largest political party, from the interim government. Therefore, he allowed the party to nominate a Muslim to the interim government, upon which the Congress joined the interim set-up. However, the viceroy’s decision prompted the League to withdraw its acceptance of the Plan.

Later upon the viceroy’s persuasion, the League also joined the interim set-up. From the very outset it became clear that the two parties could not get along. There was no unity in the cabinet and the two parties used their power to settle scores against each other. Liaquat Ali Khan in particular as finance minister shot down every Congress proposal and presented a budget which heavily taxed big industrialists, who were the Congress’ financers. This convinced both the British and the Congress that there could hardly be a smooth power sharing between the two parties.

Meanwhile, there was a change of guards in India as Lord Mountbatten was appointed the new viceroy. Soon after Mountbatten’s arrival, the Cabinet Plan was discarded and the stage was set for the partition of India, which was formally spelt out in the 3rd June 1947 Plan. By that time, the Congress leadership had also accepted that there was no alternative to the partition of India.

In retrospect, the acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan was Jinnah’s last concession to the Congress, which advocated a united India. However, the Congress wasted that opportunity. The failure of the Plan proved the last nail in the coffin of a united India and paved the way for the birth of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn on 15th August 2010.
 

Indians decieving Kashmiris with UN logos:

New Delhi, Aug. 13: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) made a mistake by deploying personnel of its Rapid Action Force in Kashmir with UN gear and has corrected the “error” after an objection from the world body.
Citizens in Srinagar were surprised when two of the RAF personnel marched on the streets wearing blue helmets that had the letters “UN” painted on them.
The objection from the UN headquarters in New York was officially made after a complaint by the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
The UNMOGIP has an office in New Delhi and its personnel make infrequent visits to the Line of Control in Kashmir but India does not give it any support because it views the group’s presence as third-party intervention in a bilateral dispute.
A CRPF source said the RAF company was earlier deployed on a UN mission to Liberia, Africa. The gear had the UN logo. This should have been corrected after the men were de-inducted from the UN mission but there was an “error”.
The error has resulted in international embarrassment. The official said that the two helmets had since been removed.
Three companies (about 300 personnel) of the RAF have been deployed to the Valley after stone-pelting and violence in Srinagar. The chief of public affairs of the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations, Nick Brinback, told news agencies in New York that the world body had got complaints about “apparent use of UN-marked blue helmets by Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel in Srinagar”.
The UNMOGIP had also asked the Indian Army about the use of the UN logo.
“We understand that directions have since been issued by the Indian authorities to prevent its recurrence. UN-marked items can only be used by personnel serving in United Nations operations during their service under the blue flag and cannot be used for other purposes, including by national armies in the conduct of their operations,” the UN peacekeeping operations spokesperson said.
In Delhi, the CRPF official said: “We realise the helmets should not have been used. We have explained to the UN and the explanation has been accepted.”
Coutresy: The Daily Telegraph