THE LIBERAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL POLITICS OF MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH: A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF HIS ADVOCACY FOR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great liberal constitutionalist and an unyielding champion of fundamental human rights like freedom of expression, assembly, association, religion etc. This paper mainly explores his efforts and unwavering advocacy in favour of fundamental human rights based on his constitutional approach and unprejudiced concept of his political philosophy. The study highlights the role of some British and Indian liberal political leadership on Jinnah’s political outlook predominantly his strong devotion to constitutional struggle, democratic principles, freedom of expression and equality of all before law. Throughout his political life, Jinnah opposed racial discrimination, exploitation of human resource, violation of human rights and maintained that no law or political framework would be acceptable if it usurped fundamental rights of the people. Based on thematic and content analysis methods supported by both primary and secondary sources, the research, through a careful examination of significant historical events, explores Jinnah’s democratic and constitutional politics with special emphasis on his commitment to constitutional rights as reflected in his speeches and statements as well as his legal arguments in the courts in this regard.