‘Dear Mr Jinnah’, a book based on memoirs of former bureaucrat Salman Faruqui, was launched at the Mohatta Palace on Friday.
At the event, Faruqui said this deep admiration for Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah inspired him to dedicate his autobiography to the founder of Pakistan.
The book draws a vivid picture of Pakistan’s bureaucracy and reveals key political secrets. During his speech, Faruqui said that at the time of independence, the migrants chanted “Long live Quaid-e-Azam,” and his deep admiration for Muhammad Ali Jinnah led him to name the book ‘Dear Mr. Jinnah’.
Former bureaucrat Salman Faruqui has condensed his five decades of experiences into his book ‘Dear Mr. Jinnah’. The book offers valuable insights into significant events, including the era of Yahya Khan, the situation in 1977, Memogate, and other key occurrences. Faruqui’s perspectives on these matters provide a noteworthy contribution to understanding
Pakistan’s bureaucratic and political history.
Through a video link from the USA, renowned economist Dr Ishrat Husain expressed that the book is not merely an autobiography. He highlighted that the book also conveys hope for Pakistan’s future, suggesting that if the country follows the right path, the journey towards progress is achievable.
Educationist and Social Sector Development Policy specialist Shahnaz Wazir Ali said that the late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto once sent Faruqui to England to learn about governmental management practices. “This book is not just a biography; it is the history of Pakistani politics,” she said, adding that the book discussed democracy and press freedom in Pakistan.
She said that the writer has also mentioned Jinnah in the context of family planning. She said that in the book a historical map has been drawn of how migration occurred and what the conditions were when independence was achieved.
She said she was surprised to learn by reading the book that Faruqi had cordial terms with military dictator Ziaul Haqi. She said Faruqi was the secretary of special education and also remained secretary of communication. “This memoir is remarkable,” she said.
Speaking on the book, journalist Mazhar Abbas said military dictator Ayub Khan played a significant role in the destruction of Sindh. “A ban was imposed on Sindhi language in the province,” he said.
Abbas said Faruqi has vividly portrayed the events of July 2, 1977, in his book. An agreement had been reached between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan National Alliance, and then martial law was imposed in the country. He said that whether they are soldiers or bureaucrats, there is a need to differentiate.
The dream of a democratic Pakistan, he said, was not fulfilled. “Sending a prime minister to Adiala was also a mistake,” he said, adding that what role the intelligence agencies played in Pakistani politics, this is the subject of the book.
He said there was a time when Lahore became the capital of Sindh, and we found this out through Salman Faruqui’s book. The speakers underscored the significance of incorporating the book into all libraries, stressing its importance as required for civil service aspirants. They also advocated for its inclusion in the syllabus.
