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What happened to Jinnah's vision for the civil service?

February 28th, 2009 | 4 Comments

Recent transfers and postings in the Punjab – a usual ritual after a change in the government – reminded me of the clear advice that the founder of Pakistan had furnished immediately after the creation of Pakistan. The extracts below are courtesy a friend who circulated these via email. We have gone adrift.

Extract from Address to Public Servants at Chittagong on 25^th March, 1948

You should not be influenced by any political pressure, by any political party or individual politician. If you want to raise the prestige and greatness of Pakistan, you must not fall a victim to any pressure but do your duty as servants to the people and the state, fearlessly and honestly. Service is the backbone of the state. Governments are formed, governments are defeated, Prime Ministers come and go, Ministers come and go, but you stay on, and therefore, there is a very great responsibility placed on your shoulders…Make the people feel that you are their servants and friends, maintain the highest standard of honour, integrity, justice and fair play. Work honestly and sincerely.

Extract from Address to Public Servants at Government House Peshawar on 14 April, 1948.

You should not be influenced by any political pressure, by any party or individual. If you want to raise the prestige and greatness of Pakistan, do you duty as servants to the people and the State, fearlessly and honestly. Governments are formed, governments are defeated, Prime Ministers come and go. Ministers come and go, but you stay on, and therefore, there is a very great responsibility placed on your shoulders. Whichever Government is formed according to the constitution you duty is not only to serve loyally and faithfully, but, at the same time, fearlessly maintaining your high reputation, your prestige, your honour and the integrity of your service

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Filed under: Jinnah, Pakistan · Tags: Civil Service, Founder of Pakistan, Independence

4 Responses to "What happened to Jinnah's vision for the civil service?"

Akbar says:

March 1, 2009 at 12:53 am

Isn’t there a larger question, What happened to Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan?

Or Iqbal’s for that matter?

Or to the vision of the millions that left homes, fields, graveyards, mosques, parents, sons, daughters, brothers, uncles, aunts, some living, some dead back in India to be moved to the virtual shangri-la promised by the ‘visionaries’ of our community.

Heroes, Islam was not short of, was Omar insufficient for a statesman?

Why? Over the years – I have read of the country commit blunders that are nothing short of hara-kiri and survive several crucial turns at maverick speed and a blatant lack of expertise.

Is this the Islamic state, for if it is then everyday is Karbala and every month is Moharram.

Why, despite an overt atmosphere for it, Pakistan failed to build on the teachings of the Holy Koran, the Hadith and the Sufis, it witnessed more closely than the Arabs – to present to the world a comparatively more relevant and objective doctrine of love, mutualism and peace – to me, the cornerstones of Islam.
Milind Kher says:

March 1, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Look at it objectively.

Allama Iqbal and Mr Jinnah were visionaries. Have subsequent rulers lived up to that?

There is a deep need for introspection. There has to be a lot of positive messages that go out to the youth. They will be the future of the nation
azhar aslam says:

March 1, 2009 at 7:34 pm

akbar / milind

why has pakistan failed to build the dream. because we have lacked the intellectuals with the vision and a few we had with the vision, have lacked the courage to stand up for it.

pakistan more than being the failure of politicians, military or bureaucracy has been the failure of intellectuals (including judiciary).

question is, are we going to let it be ?
Suv says:

November 29, 2009 at 2:15 am

Let me tell you this problem is not confined to Pakistan. India too suffers from political interference in both police and civil service postings. Answer lies in fixed tenure of atleast 3-4 years for senior police/civil servants. They should only be removed if found guilty of corruption and they should be held accountable for their performance in return