Exactly at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 12, 1948, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah began the journey to his last resdng place on the shoulders of his Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, and his ministers Zafrullah Khan, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Pirzada Abdus Sattar, Jogendra Nath Mandal, Sheikh-ulIslam Shabbir Ahmad Usmani and others.

As the carriers of the precious burden lifted it from the Main Hall of the Governor General House, they chanted `La llaha lllallah Muhammad-ur-Rasulullah.

Draped in Pakistan`s national flag, wreathed in garlands of flowers, the Quaid-i-Azam`s Janaza moved gently, solemnly along the driveway of the Governor General`s House to the gun carriage outside the main gate.

His eyes still heavy with tears he had been weeping like a child sitting on the floor beside the body in the Main Hall the Prime Minister led the mournful Janaza till it reached the gun carriage.

Immediately behind the Janaza followed in a car Fatima Jinnah, the broken-hearted sister of the Quaid-i-Azam, accompanied by his daughter, Dina Wadia, who had rushed to Karachi by air from Bombay on Sunday morning.

A hush fell on the assembled multitude inside and outside the compound of the GovernorGeneral`s House as the Janaza came in view. As it was placed on the gun carriage, thousands of the voices in the immediate vicinity from the sides of the road, from the tops of roofs, balustrades and trees burst into shouts of `Quaid-i-Azam Zindabad.

To his people the Quaid-i-Azam was still alive and would be alive for ever. Then the ceremonial State Funeral began.

GUN CARRIAGE The gun carriage was drawn by Naval Cadets, and on the other side of the carriage were the Prime Minister, Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, and other ministers including Sir Mohammed Zafrullah Khan, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, Mr Mandal and Pirzada Abdul Sattar, Sindh Premier Pir Illahi Bukhsh and Syed Miran Mohammed Shah.

A detachment of 50 civil policemen founded the vanguard of the cortège, followed by the main body of the Royal Pakistan Navy ratings, about a hundred personnel of Pakistan Army and Air Force, two companies of the RAF and the Governor General`s body guards were in front of the gun carriage.

Two cars carrying Miss Fatima Jinnah, Mrs Wadia and Begum Hidayatullah and others followed the procession. Over 200,000 mourning citizens reciting `Kalima` uninterruptedly moved on slowly and solemnly in an impressive manner.

ORDERLY CROWD Emerging from the main gate at exactly 3:15 p.m., the procession turned to Victoria Road.It then proceeded toward Elphinstone Street in a measured but slow speed, swelling in volume as it progressed. It took nearly an hour for it to reach the junction of Garden Road and Bunder Road Extension, the estimated crowd at that time being over 300,000.

The [two-mile-long] procession was disciplined and orderly. Every window and balcony, and in fact, every point of vantage along the two-mile route, was filled with seething humanity, particularly women and children.

The procession reached the Exhibition Ground the destination of the last journey of the Father of the Nation at 4:30 p.m.

An already existing wooden pillar was painted black as a mark of respect to the memory of the passing soul. [Close to the pillar], the Janaza prayers were led by Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani.

USMANI`S ADDRESS `The Quaid-i-Azam is dead, but the nation he broughtinto existence stilllives and hopes to live a life of honour and strength,` said Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani addressing the huge gathering, after the prayers.

`The Quaid-i-Azam is no more. The loss is irreparable for Pakistan, nay, I should say for the whole Muslim world. He was gifted with heart and was a rare example of nature`s gift to humanity. His selfless services to Pakistan and the Muslim nation will be remembered by all and in all ages`, said Maulana Usmani.

SOLID BLOC Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani added that it was the ambition and determination of the Quaid-i-Azam to create a solid bloc of all the Muslim states stretching from Karachi to Ankara, from Pakistan to Morocco and from here to the capital city of China. He wanted to see the Muslims of the world united under the banner of Islam.

LAST JOURNEY At the conclusion of Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani`s speech, the bier was lif ted by Army and Navy personnel. As it reached the burial ground, Royal Pakistan Air Force Tempests, while dipping in salute, showered flowers.

At 6:24 p.m. the body was gently deposited into the grave by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and other members of the Cabinet. Mr Liaquat Ali Khan placed a handful of earth and other Ministers and members of the Diplomatic Corps of Islamic countries followed him in the last rite. After the grave was covered and the last homage was paid to the Quaid-iAzam, the vast concourse dispersed quietly.•