LAHORE: (Tuesday, September 15, 2026): Punjab University Pakistan Study Centre organized a national seminar on ‘Political Thought, Leadership and Legacy of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’. On this occasion, Professor of History and Dean of Social Sciences at Forman Christian College University Lahore Prof. Dr. Skindar Hayat, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof. Dr. Mahboob Hussain, Director Pakistan Study Centre Prof. Dr. Amjad Abbas Khan Magsi, faculty and research scholars from Pakistan Study Centre, Centre for South Asian Studies, Department of History and Pakistan Studies, Department of Political Science and Department of Archaeology were also present. In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Sikandar Hayat shed light on the political thought, constitutional vision, leadership and enduring legacy of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He highlighted the historical significance of Jinnah’s political leadership, and vision for Pakistan. He briefed Jinnah's ideas within the broader historical and political context of colonial India and the creation of Pakistan. Prof. Hayat discussed the political career of Jinnah, dividing it in phases. He said that Jinnah started his political career with Congress as an Indian nationalist then in 1913 he joined Muslim League the sole representative political party of the Indian Muslims. As a member of both the political parties at a time, Jinnah strived for bringing the Hindu and Muslim political classes closer and earned the title of the ‘Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity’, he added. When Gandhi joined Indian politics, Jinnah advised the Indian Muslim political figures not to be exploited at the hands of Gandhi who was politicizing the Khilafat movement to gain his political motives, he further added. He said that later Jinnah emerged as a Muslim nationalist with a staunch support of federalism along with the provincial autonomy. He said that the rule of Congress Ministries (1937-1939) exposed the Congress mindset regarding the governance and power. As a final decision of the Muslims of India, Jinnah put the Muslim demand of a separate state in Lahore Resolution of 1940, he added. Prof. Hayat further explained how Jinnah exploited the political situation following the start of Second World War and succeeded in creating more space in favour of the Indian Muslims. He also shed light on various strategies of leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He enunciated that by expanding the base of the Muslim League, Jinnah won the support of various classes of the Muslims. Those groups included landlords, traders and professionals who were supposed to ensure a massive support to handle the mentioned matters. The support from the students and women were of great magnitude for Muslim League which helped in spreading its message to all corners of India. He highlighted Jinnah’s legacy reflecting, a practitioner of constitutionalism and rule of law, he believed in democratic governance, power sharing and provincial autonomy. He was in favour of the protection of minority rights and believed in equality of all citizens. Jinnah also believed in resolving the political matters through negotiations while adopting the approach of pragmatic politics. He said Jinnah was stick to strategic adaptability to secure the Muslim cause, practiced the Two-Nation Theory and finally declared Islam as a principal bond of unity among the Muslims. Prof. Dr. Mahboob Hussain appreciated the initiative of the Pakistan Study Centre and underscored the importance of continued academic engagement with the life, political thought and legacy of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In his welcome note, Prof. Dr. Amjad Abbas Khan emphasized the Centre’s commitment to promoting scholarly research and informed academic discourse on Pakistan’s history, politics and intellectual traditions.