There was no issue of the paper on Sept 12, 1949, on account of the Quaid’s death anniversary. The excerpt below is taken from the previous day’s edition.

EDITORIAL: It was this day last year that the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah retur­ned to the Maker. The country awoke the following morning to one of the most stunning losses in history. Quaid-i-Azam was more than a popular hero; he had become part of men’s faith, more akin to an eternal verity than finite existence. His wearing frame during his closing days heightened the conviction that he was living on the reserves of the spirit rather than the body. This unbounded confidence in his judgment had seemed to absolve his people from the necessity of thinking for themselves.

… Quaid-i-Azam’s example lives and inspi­res the efforts to shape the destiny of this cou­ntry. The keynote of his character was unflin­ching adherence to truth — truth shorn of ver­­biage … and reservations. Once he belie­v­­ed a course of action to be right, he knew no prevarication and stood firmer than a rock.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2024