Karachi: Veteran actor and singer Khaled Anam has sparked debate after linking Pakistan’s corruption to the symbolic use of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s portrait. He argued that the larger the portrait displayed, the more bribes are taken.
Speaking on a podcast, Khaled Anam stressed the urgent need for a moral reset in Pakistan. He compared moral strength to vaccination, saying just as children are immunized against diseases, society must build resilience against corruption and decay.
He lamented that Pakistan has never set a strong example by strictly punishing criminals. “We all believe in Quaid-e-Azam (money) and respect him more than laws,” he remarked, pointing to the dominance of financial gain over principles.
During the discussion, the actor recalled reading a book by Jinnah’s close friend, Kausji, who once wrote that had Muhammad Ali Jinnah known the character of Pakistanis, “he would never have created Pakistan.” Khaled Anam clarified that these were not his own words but an account from history, highlighting the contrast between Jinnah’s vision and today’s reality.
He also noted how Pakistan failed to honor Jinnah even during his lifetime. He cited the example of Quaid-e-Azam’s ambulance being damaged, adding that decades later, ambulances across the country still suffer neglect, leaving citizens vulnerable in daily tragedies.
The actor emphasized that in present-day Pakistan, currency notes bearing Jinnah’s image are respected more than justice or law. “Where the bigger Quaid-e-Azam’s picture is displayed, the more bribes are taken,” he remarked, underscoring the misuse of Jinnah’s legacy as a symbol of money rather than integrity.
By drawing attention to these issues, Khaled Anam has reignited conversations about morality, accountability, and the need to reconnect with Jinnah’s true vision for Pakistan.
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