Post date: Dec 25, 2013 12:33:19 PM
Pakistani officials commemorate the 137th birth anniversary of the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
KARACHI, PAKISTAN (DECEMBER 25, 2013) (REUTERS) - Bugles sounded and representatives from three armed forces - the army, navy and air force - saluted and laid wreaths at the mausoleum of Pakistan's founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, on Wednesday (December 25) to commemorate the 137th anniversary of his birth.
The day began with a change-of-guard ceremony in Karachi at the mausoleum of Jinnah, popularly known as "Quaid-e-Azam" or Great Leader, in which a contingent of thePakistan Military Academy took over duties at the mausoleum from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).Jinnah, son of a prosperous Muslim merchant in pre-partition India, was born on December 25, 1876. He joined the Muslim League to represent the interests of Indian Muslims in a predominantly Hindu country. As president of the Muslim League Jinnah, a staunch believer in Hindu Muslim unity, he reluctantly came to realize that the partition ofIndia was necessary to safeguard the rights of Indian Muslims.
His insistence on this issue, through negotiations with the British government, resulted in the partition of India and the formation of the state of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.
This occurred against a backdrop of widespread violence between Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, and a vast movement of populations between the new states of Pakistan andIndia in which hundreds of thousands died.
Jinnah became the first governor general of the newborn Muslim country, but died of tuberculosis a year later, on September 11, 1948. A highly respected man, Jinnah came to be known as "Quaid-I Azam" or "Great Leader."
Many officials and residents are expected to visit the mausoleum to pay their respects on this public holiday.