From the archive, 12 August 1947: Mr Jinnah, the founding father of independent Pakistan

Karachi, August 11.
Mr. Jinnah, president of the Moslem League and Governor-General designate of Pakistan, was to-day elected president of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly.

His election is yet another indication of his unchallenged supremacy in Moslem politics and was referred to by his proposer, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, who said that the creation of the State of Pakistan was mainly, if not entirely, due to him. In his unemotional opening speech Mr. Jinnah declared that two functions of the Assembly were to frame a constitution and to act as a temporary federal legislature. “Not only we ourselves but the whole world is wondering how this unprecedented cyclonic revolution which has established two new Dominions in the sub-Continent of India has been carried through peacefully and without violence,” he said.

Appealing for tolerance and unity, Mr. Jinnah said that the biggest hindrances to India’s advance had been religious and racial divisions. But for these India would have been free long ago.

People living in Pakistan, he said, would have complete religious freedom but they must remember “first, second, and last, that they are citizens of this State with equal rights and equal obligations.”

Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan proposed the adoption of the Pakistan flag - a dark green flag with a white vertical bar at the mast, the green portion bearing a white crescent in the centre and a five-pointed white heraldic star. Representatives of the Hindu minorities asked that more time be devoted to choosing of the flag and that the minorities be more closely associated with it. They were overruled, however, and the proposal was carried. Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan said the white portion of the flag, one quarter of the total area, symbolised Pakistan’s minorities, who were roughly one quarter of the total population.

The somewhat aggressive behaviour of the Hindus suggested that they are going to be by no means docile members of the Assembly. One of them wanted to speak in Hindustani, but was politely told by Mr. Jinnah that the language of the Assembly was English, unless a member could not express himself in English, when the vernacular was permitted.