Death and state funeral of Fatima Jinnah
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 Fatima Jinnah | |
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On 9 July 1967, Fatima Jinnah, the founding mother of Pakistan and the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, died at her home in Karachi at the age of 73. Her state funeral was held the following day, on 10 July 1967.
Background
[edit]Fatima Jinnah, known for her role in the Pakistan Movement, remained a influential figure in the years following the creation of the country of Pakistan. After her brother died, she was looked upon by people as a natural successor.[1] She continued to be involved in politics, voicing her opposition to the Ayub Khan military dictatorship, which earned her the respect of many but also made her a target. She was seen as a symbol of resistance by many Pakistanis, especially those in the eastern wing of East Pakistan, where she was most popular, and her outspoken stance against military dictatorship had kept her in the public eye.
The result of the election was never really in contention, for the limited number of voters could hardly be kept immune from Government pressure.[2] But Fatima received 39 percent of the votes cast, and was most popular in the cities of Karachi and Dacca.[2] In East Pakistan, she had attracted noticeably larger crowds than the President.[2]
After the result was announced, in which Ayub Khan won, he held out the olive branch to his opponent. "She fought the election according to her lights. I have no personal grudge," he said. Jinnah retorted, "There is no doubt that these elections have been rigged.” She remained unreconcilable on the issue, though she withdrew once again from active politics. In her last statement, issued in March, she decried "an atmosphere laden with fear and reeking with corruption."
Death
[edit]
On July 7, 1967, Miss Fatima Jinnah had attended a wedding ceremony and everyone witnessed that she was in sound health.[1] On July 9, 1967, Fatima Jinnah died of a heart attack in her sleep. According to official sources and her household staff, she had retired the night prior seemingly in a normal state of health. She was found dead in her bed by her servant the next morning when she did not wake up at her usual time. She was 74 years old.
Funeral
[edit]Her private last rites were performed according to Shia guidelines and the state-sponsored burial followed it. She is buried next to her brother, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, at Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi.
During her funeral, commoners were prevented from approaching her body, and no one was allowed to see her face before burial. Those who attempted to do so were met with force, including baton charges and tear gas. Rumors circulated that visible wounds were present on her body, leading to concerns about the nature of her death. Newspapers and editorials also raised questions about the circumstances of her death.
Aftermath
[edit]Fatima Jinnah's will, revealed her deep sense of dedication to her family and the nation. In her will, she expressed her desire for her assets to be used for the welfare of her family, particularly her nieces and nephews, but also for the promotion of education and social causes, highlighting her lifelong commitment to public service. She also made it clear in her will that she wanted her legacy to continue inspiring the people of Pakistan to uphold the values of justice, democracy, and equality, just as she had championed during her lifetime.
On August 2, 1971, a local Urdu newspaper published a news report which claimed that Jinnah had been murdered.[1] The report included interviews of the people who had given her the ghusl. The news item quotes one of these hired men – Hidayat Ali (Kallu Ghusl) – as saying that the corpse of Fatima Jinnah had visible wounds on it, and there was an opening in her stomach which "oozed blood and other fluids".[1] Her bloodstained clothes were also with him as evidence.[1] However, he said, no one from the administration paid any attention to his requests of inquiry, nor was the matter ever made public. Other companions of Kallu Ghussaal also confirmed the reports.[1]
Her nephew, Akbar Pirbhai, requested an inquiry, but after the provincial government took over the investigation, no official report was ever produced or made public. Rumors persisted, leading to a citizen's appeal for a judicial inquiry in 1972, which resulted in no further action.
Legacy
[edit]Fatima Jinnah's death marked the end of an era, as she was one of the last remaining figures from Pakistan's early days of independence. The mystery surrounding her death, combined with her political legacy, has kept discussions of the nature of her death alive in Pakistani history, with many still questioning the circumstances of her final days.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Balouch, Akhtar (24 January 2015). "How Fatima Jinnah died — an unsolved criminal case". Dawn. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ a b c "Fatima Jinnah Dies in Karachi; Fought Ayub in 1965 Election; Popular Though Shy Sister of Pakistan's Founder Won Broad Support in East (Published 1967)". 10 July 1967. Retrieved 24 October 2025.