One of the great example in this respect is that of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan who was reverentially called as Quaid-e- Azam 'the great leader"

Jinnah was a member of the Mumbai Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamat. From 1913, he also served for a number of years as a member of its consultative committee. His name so boldly and so indelibly on the social firmament of India? That was Mohammed Ali Jinnah from Kathiawar.

The national slogan in Pakistan has been: Pakistan Zindabad. {' Long live Pakistan' }

Of late, in the aftermath of what this country has gone through during the past three decades, cynics in Pakistan have coined a new slogan: {Pakistan se Zinda bhago. { Run for your life from Pakistan }

Today, minority communities in Pakistan whether Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis or Shia feel endangered. Target killings, roadside bombs, and suicide bombings are too common as intolerant hard core religious fundamentalists strive to enforce their own brand of Islam.

For long, Jinnah has been maligned by both British and the Indians. In his struggle for the creation of the state of Pakistan, he was also castigated by some Mullas of the Indian subcontinent who were opposed to the creation of Pakistan. posthumously Jinnah has now acquired a new status. One Pakistan became a reality, the hard core traditionalists of Pakistan tried to claim Jinnah as one of their attempt at turning Pakistan into a theocratic state.

Secularists in Pakistan claim Jinnah was born in a Khoja family and remained as Shia Ithna-Ashri until his death has never been dispute.

The tolerance, good will that great Emperor Akber showed to all non Muslims is not of recent origin. It dates back thirteen centuries ago when our Prophet not only by words but by deeds treated the Jews and the Christians, after he had conquered them, with utmost tolerance and regard and respect for their faith and beliefs. The whole history of Muslims wherever they ruled, is replete with those humane and great principles which should be followed and practiced.

In his struggle for the creation of the state of Pakistan, Jinnah's motto was: ' Faith', 'Unity' and Discipline.' This motto continues to be part of the national emblem of Pakistan.

BY: Akber Kassam,

New-York City. NY.