Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Office: '''1st Governor-General of Pakistan Term of office: August 14 1947 – September 11 1948 Succeeded by: Khawaja Nazimuddin Date of birth: December 25 1876 Place of birth: Wazir Mansion, Karachi Wives: Emibai (1892–1893), Rattanbai Petit (1918–1929) Children: daughter Dina Wadia Date of Death: September 11 1948 Place of Death: Karachi Political party: Muslim League (1913–1947),
Indian National Congress (1906–1920) Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Urdu: محمد على جناح; also spelled Mohammad or Mahomed Ali Jinnah) (December 25 1876 – September 11 1948) was an Indian Muslim and statesman who led the All India Muslim League and founded Pakistan, serving as its first Governor-General. He is commonly known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam (Urdu: قائد اعظم — "Great Leader") and Baba-i-Qaum ("Father of the Nation.") His birth and death anniversaries are national holidays in Pakistan.

As a student and young lawyer, Jinnah rose to prominence in the Indian National Congress, expounded Hindu-Muslim unity, shaped the 1916 Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League, and was a key leader in the All India Home Rule League, also known as the Council of Elders. Differences with Mahatma Gandhi led Jinnah to quit the Congress. He then took charge of the Muslim League and proposed a fourteen-point constitutional reform plan to safeguard the political rights of Muslims in a self-governing India. Disillusioned by the failure of his efforts and the League's disunity, Jinnah would live in London for many years.

Several Muslim leaders persuaded Jinnah to return to India in 1934 and re-organise the League. Disillusioned by the failure to build coalitions with the Congress, Jinnah embraced the goal of creating a separate state for Muslims as in the Lahore Resolution. The League won most Muslim seats in the elections of 1946, and Jinnah launched the Direct Action campaign of strikes and protests to achieve "Pakistan", which degenerated into communal violence across India. The failure of the Congress-League coalition to govern the country prompted both parties and the British to agree to partition. As Governor-General of Pakistan, Jinnah led efforts to rehabilitate millions of refugees, and to frame national policies on foreign affairs, security and economic development.

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