It is claimed that Pakistan is an ideological state or that it is founded on Islam but most of us especially the young men do not fully understand the principles and objects which lie behind this claim. In the minds of a large number of young Pakistanis there exists only a vague notion of what their elders means by the ideology of Pakistan. There are three principles of our national ideology.
The first principle of the ideology of Pakistan is that for Pakistanis Islam is their nationalism as well as patriotism. The people of Pakistan come from different races they seek different languages they live in geographical territories which are not contiguous. The foundations of this state therefore cannot be laid on race language and territory. The real factor that is common is Islam. The Quaid e Azam said whatever else you may be and whatever you are you are a Muslim. You belong to a nation now you have now carved out a territory. It is all yours. It does not belong to a Punjabi or a Sindhi or a Pathan or a Bengali. It is yours . Hence the basis of nationhood in Pakistan is Islam. We do not believe in idolatrous patriotism. We do not believe in worshipping the geographical features of a country called Pakistan. But we are ready to lay down our lives for the principles of Islam. Hence Islam is our patriotism.
The second principle of the ideology of Pakistan is that of Pakistanis Islam their secularism and constitutionalism. Pakistan is not a theoretic state because Islam is essentially a polity. The Quaid e Azam explained this point when the proclaimed make no mistake Pakistan is to a theocracy or any thing like it. Islam demands from us the tolerance of other creeds. Again he said you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan. Then Islam is a Din a body of principles which are for universal application. As explained by our great leader. Brotherhood equality and fraternity of man these are all the basic points of our religion culture and civilization. And we fought for Pakistan because there was a danger or denial of these human rights in its subcontinent.
The third principle of the ideology of Pakistan is that for Pakistanis Islam is their socialism and Islam has its own economic system. The object of Islam is to establish a balanced economic order. It rejects both capitalism and socialism as two extreme viewpoints. The Quaid e Azam proclaimed on 1st July 1948 We must work our destiy in our own way and present to the world an economic system based on the true Islamic concepts of equality of man and social justice. The object of the economic teachings of the Quran is two fold to provide facilities for the have nots so that they could achieve the living standard of the middle class and to impose restrictions on the haves so that they may not step beyond the middle class. This gives birth to a good society based on mutual love and co operation.