In the second half of July, 1948 when the Quaid’s health worsened, Col. Illahi Bukhsh was sent to treat him. On the advice of his doctors the Quaid agreed to be shifted to Quetta on the 13 August, 1948. In Quetta, his health improved, but by the first of September his health began to deteriorate.
On 5th September, the doctors examining his sputum found signs of pneumonia and his blood showed evidence of acute infection. Struggling to breathe, the Quaid was given oxygen and arrangements were made to move him to Karachi. On 11 September, 1948, he arrived at Mauripur Airbase, Karachi. The Quaid was carried in a stretcher into a military ambulance, which broke down on the way.
“We were still near enough to the refugee camp, and the mud, to be pestered with hundreds of flies. I found a piece of cardboard and fanned Mr. Jinnah’s face, to keep the flies away. I was alone with him for a few minutes… He moved his arm… and placed his hand on my arm. He did not speak, but there was such a look of gratitude in his eyes. His soul was in his eyes at that moment.”
“At 10.10 p.m. that day, the doctor, in order to make him fight the illness, said, ‘Quaid-e-Azam, you are going to live.’ ‘No, I am, not’ said the Quaid-e-Azam prophesying his end, and within 15 minutes he was no more.”
The Quaid-e-Azam is no more. He lived so that Pakistan may come into being. He died so that Pakistan may live. Pakistan Zindabad
“…his catastrophic malady took deeper roots, and at last over-powered him, to the total disregard of the tears and torments, not only of his forlorn and lone sister, but millions, who would have preferred with her, to tear their heart away, if that alone could spare him for his people and his nation.”
“As I see the mausoleum in Karachi go upward, inch by inch, to shelter the mortal remains of my brother, poignant memories come rushing into mind of that day, a Saturday, the 11th of September 1948, when I lost my elder brother, and my nation became an orphan… having been his constant companion for more than forty years.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Founder of Pakistan, passed away on 11th September 1948. Dina was invited by Liaquat Ali Khan. A chartered plane was sent for Dina to Bombay by him from Karachi. Dina Wadia was seen mourning at her father’s funeral. She returned immediately after her father’s death, which was also her first visit to Pakistan.
“Oh, it was massive. I’ve never heard so many people cry — I mean most, but in the mourning and crying and flowers, there were thousands and thousands of lakhs of people, but that was to be expected. Remember that Pakistan had only been going for a year or something, so it was very emotional.”
“This has been very sad and wonderful for me. May his dream for Pakistan come true.”
