(By: Abdul Basit Alvi)
People of Pakistan and Pakistanis around the globe celebrate Pakistan Day on 23rd March every year. The day resembles the historic moment when Head of the All India Muslim League (AIML), Muhammad Ali Jinnah, addressed to party members in Lahore on March 23, 1940. Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was presiding a party session in which the AIML passed a resolution that demanded the creation of separate federations based on Muslim-majority regions in British India. Quaid e Azam resolved to achieve such an arrangement because, he explained, Muslims as a cultural and political point of views were distinct from India’s Hindu majority. This resolution played a vital role in setting the foundation of creation of Pakistan.
The partition of Pakistan was not based on justice as all assets were not divided transparently and equally. I seen a very detailed and comprehensive analysis of this unjust division of Assets on Twitter Threads of Political Prism, which is very informative and I am presenting it as it is to readers just to widely spread the details of unjust division of assets during the phase of partition.
According to Political Prism’s Twitter threads, the civil and military officials were left with a difficult task when Mountbatten decided on 3 June 1947 that Pakistan and India would be divided into two portions. The division of assets at the time of the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 was a complex and contentious process. The partition involved the creation of two new independent countries: India and Pakistan. The process of dividing assets between India and Pakistan was based on the Radcliffe Award, which was announced on August 17, 1947. The award provided for the division of assets and liabilities between the two countries based on a number of factors, including the location of the asset & its use. The assets were divided into two categories: the “common pool” assets and the “separate” assets. The common pool assets included: Armed Forces, Railways and Post and telegraph services. These were to be divided on a 50-50 basis between India and Pakistan. The division of Armed Forces as it would safeguard both Indian & Pakistani lands in future. After much debate, the Air Force reserve command divided, that only 36% was to be given to Pakistan. Furthermore, only 7 out of 46 training establishments were in Pakistan. This division made Pakistan to go through a phase of tension, and the country suffered due to this tension. The separate assets included: Buildings Furniture & other movable properties However, the process of dividing these assets was complicated by the fact that many of them were in areas that were not clearly defined as belonging to India or Pakistan.
Political Prism further says that, the division of assets also had a significant impact on people’s lives, particularly those who had to leave their homes and property behind during the migration. A large group of people had lost their homes, businesses, and possessions as a result of the division of assets. Similarly, another backlash faced by Pakistan was that only 5 small retail depots out of 40 ordnance depots were located in what is, now, called Pakistan. Moreover, another injustice faced by Pakistan in division of the assets was that the country had received only 6 out of the 14 armored regiments and 8 out of the 15 infantry regiments. Overall, the division of assets at the time of the subcontinent partition was a difficult and complex process that had a lasting impact on the region and its people.
Political Prism further added that Quaid-e-Azam had addressed the division in the following words: “The division of India is now finally and irrevocably effected. No doubt, we feel that the carving out of this great independent Muslim State has suffered injustices. “We have been squeezed in as much as it was possible, and the latest blow that we have received was the Award of the Boundary Commission. It is an unjust, incomprehensible, and even perverse; and it may not be a judicial but a political award, but we have agreed to abide by it, and it is binding upon us. As honorable people, we must abide by it. It may be our misfortune, but we must bear up this one more below with fortitude, courage, and hope”.
According to the information Shared by Political Prism’s Twitter Threads, The division of assets & liabilities of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) post-1947 remains incomplete to this day. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, India still owes it a little over Rs. 5.6 billion – mainly on account of assets held with the RBI pending transfer to Pakistan.
Readers, above information clearly shows that the assets were not divided fairly and Pakistan was compelled to move forward with limited resources. Pakistan came into existence after crossing many hurdles and giving many sacrifices. Alhumdolillah, we are now at much better stage. We have our independent country where we can live, work and move freely. We are living in peaceful atmosphere as we have a much strong and professional Army and also we are the first Islamic country having nuclear assets. Though we are facing worst financial crises at the moment but our Government and Army Chief have assured that the country will not go to Default stage.
On the occasion of Pakistan day, we should realize and understand the purpose of making an independent country and should strengthen our bases. The day demands that the people and all segments of the country should be united to strengthen the country which is a blessing from Almighty Allah.