Jinnah turned the impossible into Pakistan: Bilal Sheikh tells London gathering

British Pakistani entrepreneur and educationist Bilal Sheikh has paid tribute to Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said Jinnah’s vision, political struggle and leadership gave the Muslims of the subcontinent a separate homeland. That homeland is now home to around 250 million people.

Sheikh spoke at an art exhibition organised by the Mont Rose Foundation. The exhibition was titled “Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: A Legacy Beyond Time.” It was held at the National Liberal Club on Whitehall Place in central London to mark Jinnah’s enduring legacy.

Pakistan’s newly appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, attended the event. Artist Amera Rashid was also present, along with several prominent members of the British Pakistani community, educationists, entrepreneurs and other dignitaries.

In his keynote remarks, the High Commissioner said Jinnah firmly believed in the rule of law. He said Jinnah valued reasoned argument, dialogue and political negotiation, even with opponents. Tipu Usman said Jinnah’s legacy was not only about remembering the struggle for Pakistan’s creation. It was equally about understanding the principles and values that guided that struggle. The High Commissioner praised Bilal Sheikh for organising the exhibition. He also credited Sheikh for commissioning a portrait of Quaid e Azam that is now permanently placed in the National Liberal Club.

Sheikh is the founder of Mont Rose College in London, which teaches thousands of adult students each year. He said the creation of Pakistan was the result of Jinnah’s extraordinary constitutional struggle. He said it also reflected Jinnah’s political determination and his commitment to securing a future where Muslims of British India could shape their own destiny.

Sheikh said Jinnah’s message remains relevant more than seven decades after Pakistan’s creation. He said this holds true not only for Pakistan but for millions of Pakistanis living around the world, especially as Pakistan gains greater international prominence.

Sheikh said Pakistan’s recent role in promoting international peace and preventing war in the Middle East reflects Jinnah’s teachings. He also pointed to Pakistan’s victory last year against a much bigger rival, India, as proof of the resilient nation Jinnah envisioned. He said Jinnah did not simply campaign for territory. He fought for the political rights, dignity and future of millions of people. Sheikh said today’s Pakistan, home to nearly 250 million people, exists because Jinnah had the courage and foresight to pursue a goal many once considered impossible.

Sheikh said British Pakistanis are part of the success story of modern Britain. He said they are present in education, medicine, law, business, public service, technology and many other professions. He said serving Britain successfully while contributing to Pakistan’s development reflects the values of responsibility, education and progress that Jinnah championed.

Bilal Sheikh is a British Pakistani education entrepreneur and CEO of East London based Mont Rose College. He has campaigned for several years for greater recognition of Jinnah in Britain. In 2022, Sheikh commissioned Jinnah’s portrait for London’s National Liberal Club, where Jinnah had been a member more than a century earlier. Sheikh has also advocated for a statue of Jinnah in Parliament Square. He argues that Jinnah’s historical links with Britain and his political legacy deserve greater public recognition.