Foundation of Pakistan

This is a reproduction of the entire proceedings of the historic last meeting of the All India Muslim League Council which subsequently transformed into the “First Meeting of the All Pakistan Muslim League Council” held at Khalikdina Hall, Karachi on December 14-15, 1947. Maulana Muhammad Ismail Zabeeh, being a Member of the All India Muslim League Council, also participated as a delegate. This meeting was presided over by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and attended by all eminent Muslim Leaguers. Mr. Jinnah addressed the Council for about an hour in English and his speech was later translated into Urdu by Sardar Abdur-Rab Nishtar. Mr. Jinnah eulogized the sacrifices rendered by the Muslims for the struggle towards the establishment of Pakistan. He specially cited the immense sacrifices rendered by the Muslims of the Minority Provinces in the establishment of Pakistan by saying, “credit of this must go to Minority Provinces”. In this historic meeting, the Council adopted two resolutions with unanimity. Of these two resolutions, one dealt with Palestine, condemning the United Nations decision to partition it and the other expressed horror at the wide spread acts of violence and barbarity both in the Indian Union and certain parts of Pakistan. An amendment to this resolution was moved by Maulana Ismail Zabeeh to the following effect:

"The Council hopes that both the Governments will realize their responsibility in this behalf, and prepare, after deliberations, a charter of minority rights which will ensure an honourable existence for the minorities in the two Dominions. The Council further hopes that the two Dominion Governments will be able to conclude agreements and treaties which will promote and stabilize friendly relations between the two Dominions".

The amendment was accepted and both the resolutions were adopted.

The late Maulana Zabeeh used to proudly mention that after the amendment was unanimously adopted, Quaid-e-Azam proudly got up from his chair and patted him for moving amendment to the Resolution relating to the Charter of Minority Rights.