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Govt faces criticism for omitting Quaid-e-Azam from August 14 adverts
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- Web Desk
- Today
ISLAMABAD: The federal government organised several events and placed official advertisements in newspapers to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14 this year. However, the absence of the picture of Quaid-e-Azam in these ads drew criticism from politicians and social media users.
Many social media users objected that the official newspaper advertisements did not feature the photograph of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, but instead showed images of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, among others.
The matter was also raised in the Senate, where Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced an inquiry into the matter as some opposition members showed up with pictures of Jinnah during the session.
Senate criticism
During the August 15 Senate session, the opposition objected that some government advertisements did not include photographs of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed was seen holding a picture of Jinnah during the senate session.
At one point, he remarked: “These ads were not paid for with their personal money — they were paid for with taxpayers’ money. And yet, they do not even include the image of the man who created this country.”
He said: “We have brought Quaid-e-Azam’s picture here to pay tribute to him… No documentary was even aired on August 14.”
Senator Ali Zafar also objected that, contrary to tradition, the text of the August 14 resolution had not been shared.
Law Minister Tarar told the House that there would be “an inquiry” into the omission of Jinnah’s image and a report would be presented to the Senate.
“On Independence Day, various departments, organisations, and entities — public and private — place advertisements. If such an omission occurred, it has hurt me and all of us,” he said.
The minister said the celebrations had begun at Jinnah Stadium, where all were present. “I apologise if anyone’s sentiments were hurt. But we are all followers of the Quaid. Pakistan is his gift to us.”
However, Tarar also stressed: “We are not the kind of people who attack places associated with the Quaid.”
He was referring to May 9, 2023 incidents, when PTI workers allegedly attacked and set ablaze the Lahore Corps Commander’s House — also known as Jinnah House.
Social media reactions
Since yesterday, the issue has been widely discussed on Pakistani social media.
Former federal minister Mushahid Hussain Syed called it an insult, saying the ad only carried “pictures of people temporarily holding office.”
Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar remarked: “In today’s Pakistan, the Quaid and Allama Iqbal’s vision has as much space as in this government’s advertisements.”
A user named Muhammad Zubair commented: “Instead of placing pictures of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, they put Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif.”
“We are taught lessons about Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam in our books… This is double standards,” he added.
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