Random thoughts
By Dr A Q Khan

As a continuation of my articles on unfortunate episodes with catastrophic results, this one is about the last meeting between Lord Mountbatten and Quaid-e-Azam. The principle of partition had been accepted and only the modalities were to be worked out. The Indians had conveyed to Lord Mountbatten that they wanted him as Governor-General for the interim transition period, while Nehru would be Prime Minister. When Quaid-e-Azam met Lord Mountbatten, the latter asked whether the governor-generalship of Pakistan had been thought about. The Quaid replied that he himself would be Governor-General. It is reported that Lord Mountbatten’s face turned red but he didn’t say anything. After the said meeting, Field Marshal Lord Ismay, Chief-of-Staff to Lord Mountbatten, met Quaid-e-Azam outside the room and said to him: “Jinnah, you don’t realise how much harm you have done to Pakistan today.” Later, the events would prove him right.
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