Sufi Response to the Pakistan Movement: A Case Study of Pir Syed Jamaat Ali Shah

Abstract

The struggle for independence gained significant traction in the 1940s. All India Muslim League (AIML) started organizing the Muslim community on a large scale, especially in the provinces where the League's influence was still weak. These included the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), where the Congress had widespread support, and Punjab, the birthplace of the Unionist Ministry. Numerous Muslim leaders in these provinces' urban and rural areas contributed to the cause of Pakistan's popularity. Among those who disseminated the AIML and Jinnah message throughout Punjab and the NWFP was Pir Syed Jamaat Ali Shah. He visited the two provinces and spoke at public events to rally Muslim support for Pakistan. In the process, he significantly enhanced public perceptions of AIML and its leader Jinnah while also exposing the negative effects of Congress policies, which primarily affected Muslim interests in South Asia.