Presidential Election Campaign Speech of Miss Fatima Jinnah at Peshawar

Sub title : Address delivered by Madar-e-Millat Miss Fatima Jinnah to a public gathering in Peshawar

Subject: Miss Fatima Jinnah | Presidential election 1965 | Direct adult franchise | Basic Democracy

Date of publication: 1965

Language: English

Page: 45 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 28866

Keyword: Miss Fatima Jinnah -- Presidential election 1965 -- Peshawar speech | Direct adult franchise | Basic Democracy -- Ayub Khan -- Democracy -- Sovereignty -- Opposition parties | Nine‑point programme -- Freedom of speech -- Referendum -- Pathans.

Abstract: This document contains the full text of a political speech delivered by Miss Fatima Jinnah during her presidential election campaign in Peshawar (and possibly other cities). She announces her decision to contest the presidency after careful consideration, asserting that the people’s sovereignty must reside in their direct vote. She reminds the audience of the Frontier Province’s historic role in the freedom struggle and the 1947 referendum. She criticises the Basic Democracy system as a facade, denounces the lack of direct elections, and argues that the people are fully capable of exercising their franchise. She also attacks the ruling regime for its authoritarian tendencies, including surveillance of her own movements, suppression of political parties, and manipulation of the legislature. She calls for free thinking, free speech, free press, and free association as essential ingredients of democracy. She urges the people to support the nine‑point programme of the opposition parties, to vote in large numbers, and to ensure free and fair elections. The speech is a passionate defence of democratic rights and a direct challenge to the military‑backed regime of President Ayub Khan.

Description: This multi‑page document comprises the text of a campaign speech delivered by Miss Fatima Jinnah in Peshawar (and likely other venues) during the 1965 presidential election. She begins by thanking the large crowd for their enthusiastic welcome, interpreting it as a sign of their determination to reclaim sovereignty. She praises the Pathans for their historic independence and their decisive vote in the 1947 referendum to join Pakistan. She then argues that political freedom is meaningless without the right to directly elect one’s representatives and the head of state. She criticises the Basic Democracy system as a denial of the people’s capacity to vote, and points out the hypocrisy of those who now oppose direct elections after having benefited from past regimes. She reveals that during a previous visit to Peshawar she was shadowed by intelligence agents, indicating an atmosphere of suspicion and intimidation. She condemns the ruling party’s methods of building legislative strength and the tendency to label opponents as traitors. She asserts that free thought, free speech, free press, and free association are essential to democracy. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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