LAHORE  - The Nation Editor-in-Chief and Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman Dr Majid Nizami Monday said that it was Allama Iqbal who dreamt of a separate and independent state for the Muslims of the Indian Sub-continent that was materialised by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Dr Majid Nizami expressed these remarks in his presidential address at a special ceremony held at the Aiwan-i-Karkunaan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan in connection with the 76th death anniversary of Allama Iqbal.
Dr Nizami said that it was Iqbal who persuaded the Quaid-i-Azam to return India in order to take charge of the Muslim League and lead the Indian Muslims to their destination. He said Allama Iqbal had envisioned a modern Islamic, democratic and welfare state.
Those who spoke on the occasion included Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad, Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali, Professor Hamayun Ahsan, Walid Iqbal, Allama Ahmad Ali Kasuri, Mohtarma Nasira Javaid Iqbal, Begum Bushra Rehman and Pir Syed Muhammad Kabir Ali Shah.
A large number of the Pakistan Movement Workers and people from different walks of life were present on the occasion besides Maj-Gen (r) Rahat Latif, Col (r) Ikram Ullah, Dr MA Soofi, Prof Dr Parveen Khan and Rana Muhammad Arshad. The proceedings of the event were conducted Shahid Rashid, which was jointly organised by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust and Pakistan Movement Workers Trust.
Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad threw light on different aspects of Allama Iqbal’s philosophy. He observed that, according to Iqbal, poverty has to be eliminated and equal distribution of resources, ensured in order that the economic justice may prevail in the society where everyone finds avenues of personal growth open to them, thus leading the whole nation to peace and progress.  He was speaking on the subject “Iqbal’s Assessment of Man’s Powers to Conquer the Universe”. He remarked that man has been invested with miraculous powers of body and spirit.
Allama Ahmad Ali Kasuri observed that once the Quaid-i-Azam was asked which of the two he would choose if he was offered the choice between an empire and Allama Iqbal. The Quaid-i-Azam replied forthwith that his choice would surely be the latter. Kasuri stressed the need for eliminating the exploitive system and ensuring the equal distribution of resources.
Mohtarma Begum Nasira Javaid Iqbal spoke on “Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s Educational Theory”. She observed that the poet-philosopher’s prose and poetry was replete with the suggestions and proposals for a good education policy. He always insisted on the innovative thinking in every field of life.  Begum Bushra Rehman also condemned the overuse of certain sacred terms for the users’ personal interests. She stressed the need for the inclusion of the poetry of Allama Iqbal in the curriculum.