From The Past Pages Of Dawn: 1943: Seventy-five years ago: League session in Quetta
QUETTA: Delivering his presidential address at the third annual session of the Baluchistan Provincial Muslim League which was inaugurated by Mr. M.A. Jinnah, Mr. Q.M. Isa assured the Qaid-e-Azam that during the last four years, since the establishment of the Provincial League, a lot had been done for the political and educational awakening of the province but he added, however, that a lot more had still to be accomplished. When the most backward tribes of India had been given the right of franchise why should it be denied to this part of India, he asked. “We demand the same rights and privileges as are given to other parts.”
On the last day of the session a sword was presented to Mr. Jinnah by Mr. Isa on behalf of the Provincial League. Presenting the sword, Mr. Isa said: “This sword of Islam has served the Musalmans in the past whenever they were in trouble and ever since we lost our own leader it has been kept in a sacred trust to await the arrival of our leader. Now in you, Sir, we have found our leader and offer it to you.”
Thanking the League for “this historical sword” Mr. Jinnah said: “It will only be unsheathed in our defence and not for any aggressive purpose.” — Dawn Delhi
Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2018