In-House Seminars
Commemorate Pakistan Resolution Day - In-House Seminar
Date: March 22, 2023
One day In House Seminar was conducted by Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN), to commemorate Pakistan Resolution Day at its Conference Hall. The speakers from BTTN shared their views on different aspects of this day and discussed the challenges that we are facing. The Seminar was moderated by Ms. Fatima Kakar Research Assistant at BTTN. She highlighted the significance of Two Nations Theory in relevance to the Pakistan Resolution Day. Moreover, she reflected on the need to regenerate the spirit of Pakistan Resolution in the contemporary Pakistan where the circumstances are more or less the same.
Discussing the historical background of Pakistan Movement Ms. Nazdana Mustafa – Research Assistant at BTTN highlighted all the events of past, the struggles, movements and maneuvers which made the creation of a separate state for the Muslims of Subcontinent inevitable. She further elaborated the relevance of Two Nations Theory in the contemporary India where the Muslims throughout their country especially in Assam, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh are facing the worst kind of human rights violations, including arbitrary deprivation of life, violations of freedom of religion or belief, association and assembly.
Ms. Irum Adil – Research Assistant at BTTN, shed some light on Aims and Objectives for the Creation of Pakistan. She added, that Pakistan was created on grounds of social, political, and economic prejudices by Hindus as well as by the British. Therefore, it was a gradual and systematically planned movement by Muslims that was led by the anticipation of a country where individuals could exercise their rights freely.
Ms. Pairman Bazai – Research Officer (BTTN) highlighted the importance of Education and the active role played by women and students in the creation of Pakistan. While referring to the current status of education in Pakistan, she explained that Pakistan has not met its goals of developing and sustaining its literacy rate and progressing as an educated society due to its flawed and rotten education system. Therefore, it needs full-fledged revisions in the education system.
While discussing the economic, social and political status of the country Mr. Ali Abbas – Research Assistant (BTTN), added that 83 years after the Pakistan Resolution, we are yet to realize the dreams of the founders of this nation. He highlighted the plight of certain segments of society who are still struggling to get their due rights in Pakistan, which is a matter of concern for the State. Political situation remains volatile with no respect of the Constitution and economically, we are still dependent on foreign aids and loans and have not reached the status of economic self-sufficiency.
Ms. Sakina Ahmed – Research Assistant (BTTN) shed some light on the youth of the past and the present in terms of enthusiasm, positivity, and the spirit for contributing to their motherland. She highlighted that the youth of today is lacking vision to tread on the right path on which they can bring prosperity to the country. She stressed that youth should focus on market-required skills and should contribute to the development of the society because today’s youth is a promise of a better tomorrow.
Brig Agha Ahmad Gul (R) gave concluding remarks by stressing upon the importance of three corners of the development triangle – economy, society, and politics. He explained that these three corners are interlinked with each other and the collective development of a nation is dependent on the development of these three corners simultaneously. He further elaborated the significance of history and geography of Pakistan. He recommended that we should work on making ourselves more disciplined and play our role in the development of a nation. He motivated the Faculty of Research to carry out their own job with diligence no matter how grave the situation might appear to be. Brig Gul concluded his talk by a message that we would not give up on Pakistan, we would take it to the heights of glory which our forefathers had envisioned in 1940.
Iqbal Day - In-House Seminar
Date: November 10, 2022
On November 10, 2022, Balochistan Think Tank Network organized an in-house seminar to celebrate the birth anniversary of the renowned scholar and political thinker, Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Ms. Harsa Kakar moderated the seminar. The list of the speakers included, Mr. Asadullah Raisani, Mr. Ajmal Khan, Mr. Sikandar Azam Khan and Mr. Muneeb Ur Rehman.
The head of BTTN, Brig Agha Ahmad Gul (R) gave the opening remarks in which he explained some of the poems of the great philosopher poet Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal and the message that they carried for the youth of Indian subcontinent.
Mr. Asadullah Raisani addressed the audience about “Scholarly contributions of Iqbal”. Most of Iqbal’s ideas were generated from the Quran, he said. Mr. Asad also enlightened the audience about Iqbal’s meeting with Mussolini, the erstwhile ruler of Italy. It was noted that Iqbal had an interesting discussion with the Italian leader and that the former advised the latter on matters pertaining to the structure of society, how and why the West had lost its moral values. Iqbal was also a key figure in instilling the notion of ‘Reconstruction’ of Islamic Political Thought. Iqbal was a firm believer of keeping up with the era. As such, he proposed for an “Islamic Renaissance” that would, once again, bring Muslim intellectuals at par with their Western counterparts.
Mr. Sikandar Azam spoke on the title “Iqbal’s poetry, philosophical and political life”. According to him, Iqbal was a poet and political thinker par excellence. His poetry stressed on Muslims to regain their confidence and belief in themselves. Iqbal’s philosophy had aspects of spiritualism, mysticism and Islamic revival. He negated many aspects of modern western philosophy and way of life. He emphasized on the extraordinary role of Iqbal’s 1938 speech in Allahabad that provided Muslims of India with a blueprint to an independent state.
Mr. Muneeb-ur-Rehman, the final speaker of the seminar, spoke on the topic of “Iqbal’s Pakistan; an inspiration for Pakistanis today”. The speaker highlighted that Iqbal’s words inspires Muslims and general readers to this day. Iqbal’s writings were so filled with optimism, hope, courage, and inspiration that the ideal picture of a Pakistan is always termed as “Iqbal’s Pakistan”. Iqbal’s analogy of the ‘Eagle’ in many of his poetic pieces keeps on constantly inspiring the youth of the nation to look beyond the clouds and fly into soaring heights of excellence. He espoused Independence, dignity and self-respect. He urged the Muslims of his time to possess high ideals and follow them up with action. His was an attempt to initiate self-confidence and reliance in the Muslims, to challenge the youth to realize their potential. Iqbal’s Muslim hero was a man of action who wasn’t absorbed in the worldly life.
Mr. Muneeb Ur Rahman concluded his talk with these beautiful couplets of poet, Sehba Akhtar:
ابھی تک روشنی کا کارواں شب کی تھکن میں ہے
خزاں کی بھی عملداری اگرچہ اس چمن میں ہے
مگریہ پھر بھی جنت ہے اسے جنت بنا رکھو
کہ پاکستان سے باہر ہمارا کچھ نہیں یارو
وادی مہران سے ہر گوشہ کا غاں تک
سرحد او پنجاب سے لیکر بلوچستان تک
جو میرا ہم وطن ہے خود وطن کی شان ہے
ارض پاکستان کا ہر فرد پاکستان ہے۔۔۔
In-House Seminar on Emergence of Pakistan: Inglorious Role of Britain in the Partition of Colonial India
Date: Friday 12 August 2022
BTTN commemorated the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan by conducting an In-House seminar on 14 Aug 2022. The event was themed on the Emergence of Pakistan: Inglorious Role of Britain in the Partition of Colonial India. It was moderated by Mr. Aadersh Hamza Malghani, Associate Director while the speakers of the event included Brig Agha Ahmad Gul (R), Dr. Anwar Khan & Mr. Ajmal Khan.
Brig Gul spoke on the British perceptions built over some 450 years of their slow conquest of India that theIndia’s Rulers had been the Muslims and they had to keep them suppressed. Even their offensive aimed at subduing Afghanistan in 1843 and then in 1879 was against the Muslims who gave them tough fights. The British had also crushed some 650 years old Muslim Ottoman Empire in 1918 and ensured that Political Islam does not get revived by not letting King Abdul Aziz become the new Calif. The British were thus highly averse to the Creation of Pakistan. He said, that the Colonial Viceroy Mountbatten announced Partition Plan on 3 June 1947, giving only 40 days for creation of a new country, while the British Act passed by the Parliament had allowed time up to August 1948. Mountbatten, conniving with Hindu India was expecting Pakistan to fail and rejoin India in matter of days or months, which did not happen due to the steely will of the Quaid a Azam, and the people . The Viceroy clearly was siding with India in all his decisions, such as breaking up two Muslim Majority Tehsils in East Punjab to open up land access to Kashmir to India, not allowing transfer of assets, no central Bank, no currency, no factories, no army, leaving undecided the issues of territory in the south Rann of Kacch and Kashmir as well as share of Rivers Water. Almost all of our present day issues were originally created by the Colonial Viceroy, who not only become the 1st Governor General of India but also became an adversary of Pakistan, protecting Indian interests.
He added, that the Hindu Indian Congress convinced the British to illegally occupy Kashmir for which even the Muslim Majority Tehsils of East Punjab were acceded to Hindu India. Hindus abhor non-Hindu and consider them filthy, dirty and impure. The viceroy violated the Independence Act and dishonestly helped India to occupy Kashmir. It was totally against the rules made in London by UK Parliament.
Brig Gul also spoke on the Kalat States’ accession with Pakistan. He highlighted that historically Kalat was a Princely State which according to the Independence Act had to join one of the Two New Dominions, depending upon Contiguity and Religion. Federation of Kalat States had no other option. Accordingly, all four States acceded to Pakistan in last week of March 1948. Similarly, the British Balochistan, was asked to hold a Referendum. The un-elected Members of Shahi Durbar and Quetta Municipality quite naturally, unanimously opted to join Pakistan.
Dr Anwar khan, while highlighting the Gilgit Baltistan issue and Creation of Pakistan, said that Gilgit Baltistan is of a great strategic importance. Knowing the importance of this region, the growing Tsarist Russian presence, and fearing a possible Russian invasion from Central Asia; the British intervened and created Gilgit Agency in 1877 in order to bring the area under their control. This marked the beginning of British Dogra rule in Gilgit. However, uprisings began against the Maharaja’s rule in different parts of Kashmir. A never seen Instrument of Accession was announced by the Maharaja on October 27, 1947, joining Kashmir. This too was against the British Act of Independence, but dishonestly, the Viceroy sided with Hindu India. The Gilgit Scouts, who had already formed a Revolutionary Council, initiated a revolt against Dogra rule, and the areas surrounding Gilgit were liberated from Dogra, and independent state was announced on 1st November 1947. After 15 days of independent state, Gilgit acceded to Pakistan unconditionally. The hope of the local people in 1947 that they would join the Pakistani federation as a province, as other regions of the country, still awaited, and the full-fledged province is meaninglessly awaiting a plebiscite by the UN on India’s Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOK) Part. The plebiscite stood held as the people of Kashmir have been perpetually agitating against Indian Rule. This is enough of Plebiscite.
Mr. Ajmal Khan in his talk highlighted the circumstances which necessitated the Referendum in the NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and whether there was a need for it. He highlighted the role of the then NWFP in the freedom movement and political dynamics of the province. He highlighted that the third June plan was agreed upon by the Congress and Muslim League- envisaged a referendum in NWFP to determine which constituent assembly the province will join. Mainstream uprising in favor of Pakistan gave swing to Congress leadership and it lost its grounds to the urban Muslim League.
While concluding the seminar, Brig Gul emphasized that to commemorate our 75th Independence Day, it is not enough to wave the flag, wear pins and consider ourselves lucky not being under the English or the Hindu India yoke. The BJP’s extremist Hindutva ideology, which Muslim elders foresaw in 1928 has become visible against the erstwhile lies of Secularism. This Independence Day must be celebrated with realization that many forces and odds worked against Pakistan’s creation but Pakistan still was created and surviving in spite of the maladies acts of our enemies. This Day should be celebrated with a steely will as that of our Elders, to fight all enemies of Pakistan at every forum, make it a secure, prosperous, tolerant and true welfare Muslim State of which the founding Fathers can be proud of.
