LAHORE – Nawa-i-Waqt Editor-in-Chief and Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust (NPT) Chairman Majid Nizami has stressed that youth, especially girls, should follow in the footsteps of Madar-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah to transform Pakistan into a modern Islamic welfare state.
He said this while addressing a function held at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehreek-e-Pakistan on Monday to observe the 45th death anniversary of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah. The programme was organised by NPT in collaboration with Tehreek-e-Pakistan Workers Trust.
While addressing the ceremony, Majid Nizami paid glowing tributes to Fatima Jinnah for her services rendered in the Pakistan Movement. He said Madar-e-Millat was third one after Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal in the hierarchy of those who rendered great sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan. She was one of the Pakistan Movement participants who created separate homeland for the Muslims, as she assisted and looked after Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at every stage, Nizami added.
“Without the efforts of Fatima Jinnah, the dream of getting a separate homeland would not have been materialised,” said Nizami adding she played a major role in making his brother a great leader. He said on the request of opposition Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah contested presidential polls against self-proclaimed field marshal Ayub Khan, however, the dictatorial regime manoeuvred victory through massive rigging.
Madar-e-Millat made many tours to all parts of the country including East Pakistan during her election campaign, Nizami said adding during her stay at late Mian Bashir Ahmed’s residence in Lahore, he personally met her and assured her that Nawa-i-Waqt would fully support her cause.
Addressing on the occasion, NPT Vice Chairman Dr Rafique Ahmed said Madar-e-Millat was founder of the first movement against dictators in Pakistan. Fatima Jinnah, Dr Rafique said, sacrificed each and every thing for the cause of Pakistan.
Begum Mehnaz Rafi said Fatima Jinnah motivated women to take part in the Pakistan Movement. “We are living in an independent environment only due to the struggle and dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah,” she added.  At the end, special prayer was offered for Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Quaid-e-Azam and other heroes of the Pakistan Movement.
Col (r) Jamshed Ahmad Tareen, Chief Justice (r) Mian Mahboob Ahmad, Pir Ejaz Hashmi, former Senator Naeem Hussain Chattha, Dr MA Soofi, Allama Ahmed Ali Kasuri, Col (r) Ikramullah, Agha Naseer Ahmad, Dr Parveen Khan, MPA Rana Muhammad Arshad, Prof Muzaffar Mirza, Dr Rashida Quraishi, Dr Yaqoob Zia, Rafique Ghouri, Syed Naseebullah Gardezi and people from different walks of life, students of Ideological Summer School and their parents attended the function.