When is the Quaid-e-Azam Day?
This holiday is celebrated annually on December 25th.
It commemorates the birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was a notable politician, founder of Pakistan and Pakistan’s first Governor-General.
The day may be known as ‘Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam’, Quaid-e-Azam meaning Great Leader.
History of Quaid-e-Azam Day
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born on December 25th 1876 in Karachi, which was still part of British-controlled India at that time.
After studying in Bombay and London, Jinnah became a lawyer in Bombay. in 1913, he joined the Muslim League, which had been formed to stand up for the rights of Indian Muslims and he became its president in 1916.
Jinnah believed that Muslim-Hindu unity in India was possible, but over the years the relationship between the Hindu and Muslim communities had deteriorated to such a point that he reluctantly accepted that the best way to protect the rights of Indian Muslims was through partition.
In 1940, he first suggested the idea of the partition of India to create Pakistan and led negotiations with the British government. This resulted in the partition of India and the creation of the state of Pakistan on August 14th 1947.
Following the creation of Pakistan, Jinnah became the first governor-general, but died of tuberculosis on September 11th 1948.
How is Quaid-e-Azam Day celebrated?
On Pakistan Day, wreaths are laid at his mausoleum in Karachi to commemorate his role in the founding of Pakistan. Special programmes about Jinnah will be broadcast on TV and radio stations.