As Pakistan debates 'Islamisation (it) would do well to remember what Mohammad Ali Jinnah told Lord Mountbatten: "The position of a non-Muslim citizen or lawful residents of Pakistan cannot be inferior to the position occupied for a thousand years by a zimmi under the command of the Prophet and the laws of Islam." It would be proper and desirable to make these words of the Quaid-e-Azam part of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Zimma means responsibility in Arabic. A zimmi is one for whose welfare the state and society (majority) are responsible. Regarding zimmis, that is non-Muslims lawfully resident in territory ruled by Muslims, Prophet Mohammad ordained: "Whoever wrongs a zimmi, I shall be his accuser ... Whoever torments a zimmi torments me. (Source: The Times of India, 30 September, 1998)

Shahabuddin's Response

Apropos Mr. Danial Latifi's "Lesson for Nawaz from the First Caliph" (Times of India, 30 September, 1998) I am surprised that in his view, in this age of democracy, a Muslim state should or may treat its non-Muslim citizens as Zimmis. He does not explain what the rights and duties of Zimmis are. Indeed a Muslim State is legally and morally bound to protect their life, property, honour and religious identity including places of worship and exempt them from military service, on payment of Jizia at their option. Their professional services may be employed by the State but can they participate on equal terms with its Muslim citizens, in the policy and decision-making process in the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary? A Zimmi will not be oppressed but treated differently. Is it enough. Would the Muslims in non-Muslim States accept such differentiation?